Al Manak

35 articles published

DRINK > WINE DRINK > WINE > Nebbiolo (including Barolo)

100 points)

The Cordero di Montezemolo Barolo Monfalletto 2018 is a captivating expression of Nebbiolo from the renowned La Morra region of Piedmont, Italy. This wine showcases the expertise of a family that has been crafting exceptional Barolos for 19 generations. The grapes for this Barolo come from carefully selected vineyards on the Monfalletto Estate in La…

ByAl ManakSeptember 14, 2024

EAT > MELBOURNE

EAT > Il Bacaro, Melbourne (18/20)

I moved from Sydney to Melbourne in 1995 and immediately fell in love with the remarkable bars and restaurants that had a truly unique style about them. One of those restaurants was Il Bacaro which launched that same year on Little Collins Street (just off Russell St). As you enter the restaurant the…

ByAl ManakSeptember 14, 2024

EAT > ROME

EAT > Armando Al Parthenon, Rome (16/20)

When you ask for recommendations on where to get an excellent traditional meal in Rome you get the same recommendation again and again. Armando al Pantheon its brilliant. A fairly simple restaurant that takes Roman dishes and perfects them. Started in 1961 by Armondo Gargioli, initially it was a wine bar with…

ByAl ManakJune 8, 2024

SKI > CANADA TRAVEL TRAVEL > CANADA WHERE TO SKI >

SKI > Banff

MENU Getting There > Where To Stay > Where To Eat > Where To Drink > Where To Ski > Mount Norquay > Lake Louise > Sunshine Village > Breath taking beauty, amazing mountains, genuine Canadian hospitality and some of the best skiing in the world is what is going to take you to Banff…

ByAl ManakMay 16, 2024

DRINK > MELBOURNE

DRINK > Pearl Chablis and Oyster Bar, Melbourne

Melbourne loves to hide its bars and restaurants away down laneways, underground and on top of building roof tops but Pearl is not easy to find. The Midcity Centre arcade on Bourke Street is not a place you would normally associate with fine dining or fine drinking, but make your way past 'Breadtop', the…

ByAl ManakMay 7, 2024

EAT EAT > TOKYO

EAT > Sushi M, Tokyo

It was back in January 2023 and we were returning from Japan and we bumped into the incredibly talented Nicky Reimer chef of Bellota Restaurant on our flight home, sharing stories of food and travel, I asked her what was the best food experience you had in Japan she did not hesitate and said immediately…

ByAl ManakJanuary 19, 2024

SKI > JAPAN WHERE TO SKI >

SKI > Zao Onsen, Japan

The town of Zao Onsen has been an important destination for over 1900 years and the ski resort has been active for over 100 years. So there is plenty of history associated with the town and it is one of the most famous 'onsen' towns in Japan. The steps past Miyamaso Takamiya The first thing…

ByAl ManakJanuary 19, 2024

DRINK > WINE DRINK > WINE > Cabernet Sauvignon DRINK > WINE > Merlot

DRINK > Château Ducru-Beaucaillou

I am not going to pretend to be any kind of expert on the wine of Bordeaux and there are many vastly more experience wine writers who have reviewed this wine in the past and given their reviews. But in December of 2023 at a wonderful degustation/omakase dinner at the quite incredible 'Sushi-M' this was…

ByAl ManakJanuary 19, 2024

DRINK > WINE DRINK > WINE > Chardonnay

DRINK > Bread & Butter Chardonnay 2021

Our last evening staying at the incredible ANA InterContinental Appi Kogen Resort we were offered drinks at the generous 'aperitivo hour' a time for snacks and drinks while enjoying the music from resident piano man 'Salvatore' (who comes from Calabria). Feeling like we had already consumed a little too much of the house…

ByAl ManakJanuary 19, 2024

DRINK > WINE

WINE > Roberto Voerzio – Disanfrancesco Nebbiolo 2020 (93/100 points)

In recent years Roberto Voerzio has become somewhat legendary for his Barolo wines some of which are attracting huge prices (€900-€1200 per bottle at release and much more at auction), the wines are known for the depth of flavour and showing less of the tannin and oak that other well known Barolo wines might have. …

ByAl ManakJuly 22, 2023

Al Manak

WINE > Cordero di Montezemolo Barolo (95/100 points)

EAT > Il Bacaro, Melbourne (18/20)

EAT > Armando Al Parthenon, Rome (16/20)

SKI > Banff

DRINK > Pearl Chablis and Oyster Bar, Melbourne

EAT > Sushi M, Tokyo

SKI > Zao Onsen, Japan

DRINK > Château Ducru-Beaucaillou

DRINK > Bread & Butter Chardonnay 2021

WINE > Roberto Voerzio – Disanfrancesco Nebbiolo 2020 (93/100 points)

SKI > Alpe d’Huez

SKI > Revelstoke

SKI > Banff

SKI > Mammoth, California

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