09/08/2022
FULLER 88 WINES (Co-made by Danniel Amadio & Milton Wee)
Sometime back in 2012, I set out to create wines to match with Asian Cuisine in all its glorious diversity of flavours. In the Fuller 88 wines π· we believe we succeeded
Award Winning Winemaker & Friend, Danniel Amadio was roped into the project as I filled him in on my blueprint for these all encompassing food pairing friendly wines. Of course Danniel was in the first place, skeptical if such a tall order (mine) could realistically be achieved π
Goals. Both the wines, a Semillon Sauvignon Blanc blend and the Cabernet Shiraz had to be able to be paired with at least 80% of all Asian Cuisine type dishes. Specifically targeting spicy, sweet & sour flavours. The wines then had to be of a certain price point, to be able to retail in the Singapore market at below $30 after factoring costs, taxes and duties. Finally the wine had to be able to drink well from the get go, and yet have the quality to be able to age. Of course I got a figuratively βevil eyeβ π from Danniel when I mentioned a certain Bin 389 as my benchmark for taste and ageability π
We completed the wine in 2012 and by 2014 we had the wines distributed in several restaurants in Singapore. The pairing with Asian Cuisine, which then included Peranakan, local Zichar, Thai, Indian, Indonesian, Korean as well as Hawker food proved to be a great success. Practically >95% of all food we had with these 2 wines paired well, fiery sambal belachan and all. Cost considerations checked too.
The final frontier (so to speak π) β¦
Fast forward today. To prove that the wines could indeed age well, a few hundred bottles were kept in professional cellaring services at Toll Zenecon. We just drew out some cases of the Fuller 88 Cabernet Shiraz 2008 and found them to be drinking wonderfully well. Unmistakable Cassis right up front on the nose with a hint of Asian spices. On the palate the wine was fresh, fruit driven, with just a suggestion of sweetness and of medium length. In maturing the wine, the pairing ability with Asian dishes was not diminished at all. It sang on my palate together with the food that I was eating.
So once again, Iβm now availing the Fuller 88 Cabernet Shiraz at $28 nett per bottle, or $300 for a case of 12 bottles (self collection).
A big shoutout to all my friends who believed in me and the Fuller 88 wines, also my wife, Yaling and many more friends who have tasted these wines with us more than 8 years ago ππ₯°
