Dan Trcka
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Followers (47)
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Following (5)
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Reviews (1016)
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Updated September 2013.
....Dear reader, allow me to introduce myself, my name is Daniel Trcka and much like yourself, I am a wine enthusiast.
My wine story
....I am inherently curious and have always had the need to figure out how things work – this drive has led me to become as I am today. It is always interesting how passions evolve before they become entities that engulf oneself and become him or herself. My passion began the day when I decided to make my own wine. Thinking that my creation must fare better than the cheapest 1.5L table wine I went ahead and surprisingly achieved it. Naturally, this then led to a simple question “what makes one wine better than another”? The somewhat complicated answer took me on a quest to learn about the complexity and the range of ‘tastes’ – first seeking the answer in a pursuit of knowledge (I highly recommend reading a 926 page book titled WINE by Andre Domine), and then finding it by training my sense of smell (54 scent Les-Nes-Du-Vin kit, also highly recommended) and learning how to listen to it. Subsequently, natural progression (for me) was to share my passion and the newly gained knowledge, and so I started reviewing wines on the WineAlign website, and Natalie MacLean’s site, but these not fully satisfying my need to express myself, I developed this webpage and launched it on July 19th, 2012.
My palate
....Let’s face it, I love red wines and even though I appreciate white wine, I really enjoy reds. My palate is quite varied, meaning that I enjoy all sorts of wines ranging from light bodied aromatic Pinot Noirs, fruity Barberas or tannic Nebbiolos to full-bodied green Carmeneres, refined Cabernets or jammy Malbecs or Shirazes. If I go by the numbers, then in the not-so-distant-past, Rioja’s Tempranillo followed by Piedmont’s Nebbiolo and Tuscan Sangiovese were the most common guests on my dinner table; though recently Ontarian wines (mainly whites) have become quite frequent and welcomed visitors. I enjoy wines that spent some time in oak, acquiring some toasty/woody notes that add to their complexity; prefer mid-aged (integrated) wines, but don’t shy away from youthful and fruitful ones; and I pay attention to the trueness of the grape. I hope that knowing this will help in deciding whether my palate matches yours.
Other than wine, what do I do
....I am fortunate to work in a prestigious research institute, on a fascinating, cutting edge project, for a professor who is one of the smartest men I know and with colleagues that are a friendly, knowledgeable bunch. We are trying to understand what makes stem cells – stem cells; specifically, we convert regular cells into stem cell like cells, using mice and mouse cells as our model. We then use these cells to generate mouse embryos, from which we isolate differentiated embryonic cells and induce them to undergo secondary, synchronized reprogramming into a stem cell like cells. We can study this secondary reprogramming and gain insights that bring us ever closer to personalized medicine in hope that one day we, the mankind, will be able to convert one’s cells into body’s deficient or damaged cells thus restoring health.
My contribution to scientific advancement
– MBNL proteins repress ES-cell-specific alternative splicing and reprogramming.
.. Nature June 13th, 2013.
– A late transition in somatic cell reprogramming requires regulators distinct from the pluripotency network.
.. Cell Stem Cell December 7th, 2012.
– Discoidin domain receptor-1 deficiency attenuates atherosclerotic calcification and smooth muscle cell-mediated mineralization.
.. American Journal of Pathology. November 5th, 2009.
– Collagen stimulates discoidin domain receptor 1 mediated migration of smooth muscle cells through Src.
.. Journal of Cardiovascular Pathology. January 19th, 2010.
– The in vitro real-time oscillation monitoring system identifies potential entrainment factors for circadian clocks.
.. BMC Mol Biol February 16th, 2006.
Contribution Acknowledgement
– Matrix-dependent adhesion of vascular and valvular endothelial cells in microfluidic channels.
.. Lab Chip August 7th, 2006.
– Transcriptional oscillation of canonical clock genes in mouse peripheral tissues.
.. BMC Mol Biol June 16th, 2004.
– Fez1 is layer-specifically expressed in the adult mouse neocortex.
.. European Journal of Neuroscience December 2nd, 2004.
Reviews
Studert Prüm Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett 2011, Prädikatswein, Gutsabfüllung
Mosel, Germany$19.95
The 2011 Studert-Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinet has light aromas of sulphur that quickly dissipate, after which sweet, yellow apple notes emerge. It is a medium bodied, sweet, fruity wine, with good acidity and a medium finish. Serve as an aperitif or after dinner palate refresher; drink on its own for the next 2 years. My impression: NOTHING SPECIAL to NICE, 88 pts - I can not be sure this was a bad bottle, for this price this wine deserves to be tasted again. Tasted during Riesling & Co. World Tour May/13.
See my wine recommendations readily available at the LCBO here:
http://grapeselections.com/grapeselections
or here @
http://www.winealign.com/wino/dantrcka/recommended-wines-you-can-still-buy
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Markus Molitor Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett 2011, Qmp
Mosel, Germany$29.95
The Markus Molitor Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinet 2011 has slightly volatile as well as yellow pear notes. It is a medium bodied, sweet, fruit forward wine, with checked acidity and a medium finish that is faintly sulfurous. My impression: NOTHING SPECIAL, 87 pts - wine for this price should deliver much more. Tasted during Riesling & Co. World Tour May/13.
See my wine recommendations readily available at the LCBO here:
http://grapeselections.com/grapeselections
or here @
http://www.winealign.com/wino/dantrcka/recommended-wines-you-can-still-buy
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Exultet Estates 'the Blessed' Chardonnay 2011, VQA Prince Edward County
Ontario, Canada$40.00
The 2011 Exultet 'the Blessed' Chardonnay spent 12 months in French Oak barrels giving it concentrated aromas of buttery oak, coconut and buttery pear. It is a full-bodied, extra-dry, integrated wine, with good acidity and a long, smooth, buttery oak, finish. This wine will complement BBQ’d meats as well as will reward simply on its own. Rated 91-92 pts and recommended based on quality. Tasted at 'County in the City' event http://grapeselections.com/county-in-the-city/ in April/13.
See my wine recommendations readily available at the LCBO here:
http://grapeselections.com/grapeselections
or here @
http://www.winealign.com/wino/dantrcka/recommended-wines-you-can-still-buy
4.0 Stars
Anakota Helena Montana Vineyard 2008, Knights Valley
California, Usa$84.95
The 2008 Anakota Helena Montana Vineyard, a Cabernet Sauvignon aged in French Oak for 19 months, has concentrated aromas of black cherry, black currant and blackberry, toasted oak and vanilla. It is full bodied, integrated, with balanced acidity, refined tannins and a long, silky, sweet-vanillin-filled finish. Drink as a sipper; drink now and for the remainder of this decade. My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 92 pts – recommended wine, though at a hefty price. Tasted April/13 at WineAlign Cru tasting.
See my wine recommendations readily available at the LCBO here:
http://grapeselections.com/grapeselections
or here @
http://www.winealign.com/wino/dantrcka/recommended-wines-you-can-still-buy
4.0 Stars
(0)
F.X. Pichler Loibner Klostersatz Grüner Veltliner Federspiel 2012
Wachau, Austria$37.95
The 2012 F.X. Pichler Loibner Klostersatz Grüner Veltliner Federspiel, sourced from Wachau, has light mineral aromas as well as lemon and apple notes. It is a light bodied, dry, fruity wine; with good acidity and a long, lightly creamy finish. Enjoy this wine with food; drink now to 2016+. My impression: NICE, 88-89 pts. Tasted in Apr/14 at 'Tasted with Andreas Wickhoff, Austria’s third Master of Wine, at the Fine Wine Reserve.' http://grapeselections.com/grapeselections/wine-reviews/.
See my wine recommendations readily available at the LCBO here:
http://grapeselections.com/grapeselections
or here @
http://www.winealign.com/wino/dantrcka/recommended-wines-you-can-still-buy
4.0 Stars
Blue Mountain Pinot Noir 2011, Okanagan Valley
British Columbia, Canada$24.90
The 2011 Blue Mountain Pinot Noir has intense, captivating aromas of rosehip, pine needles on the nose and pomegranate, blueberry, dates, light strawberry and vanilla on the palate. It is a light to medium bodied, dry, fruity wine, with good acidity, subtle tannins (decant for 30-60 min) and a long finish. Enjoy on its own; drink now and for the next 3-5 years. My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 92+ pts – definitely recommended, however it is only sold at the winery. Tasted May/13 and again Sept/13.
See my wine recommendations readily available at the LCBO here:
http://grapeselections.com/grapeselections
or here @
http://www.winealign.com/wino/dantrcka/recommended-wines-you-can-still-buy
4.0 Stars
Huff Estates South Bay Chardonnay 2010, VQA Prince Edward County
Ontario, Canada$23.75
The 2010 Huff Estates South Bay Vineyards Chardonnay, aged in French Oak for 14 months, has alluring aromas of pear, subtle oak and vanillin. It is an extra-dry, medium bodied, fruity to integrated wine with checked acidity and a long, clean, oak and subtle vanilla dominated finish. This is a sipper, drink now-2018. My impression: NICE to BEAUTIFUL, 90 pts – recommended based on both, quality and value. Tasted April/13 at WineAlign Cru tasting.
See my wine recommendations readily available at the LCBO here:
http://grapeselections.com/grapeselections
or here @
http://www.winealign.com/wino/dantrcka/recommended-wines-you-can-still-buy
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Stratus Chardonnay 2012, VQA Niagara On The Lake
Ontario, Canada$48.00
The 2012 Stratus Chardonnay, naturally ferment in barrel and then aged for 9+ months in French oak barrels (18% new), has rich aromas of butter, vanilla and oak on the nose and ripe pear, wood and vanilla + butter on the palate. It is a light to medium bodied, extra-dry, fruity to integrated wine; with good acidity and a long finish. This is a sipping wine (though food friendly); enjoy for 5-10 years (enclosed with long cork). My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 92 pts – recommended for its quality, though rather pricey. Tasted in Jul/14 at 'Barrels & Bonfires (i4C 2014)' http://grapeselections.com/i4c-2014/.
See my wine recommendations readily available at the LCBO here:
http://grapeselections.com/grapeselections
or here @
http://www.winealign.com/wino/dantrcka/recommended-wines-you-can-still-buy
4.0 Stars
Pirramimma Petit Verdot 2010, Mclaren Vale
South Australia, Australia$24.95
The 2010 Pirramimma Petit Verdot has intense aromas of cut hay, black currant, figs, subtle vanilla and cigar box. It is a full bodied, extra-dry, alcoholic, fruity to integrated wine, with forward acidity, refined tannins (decant starting from 30 min all the way to 2+ hours and watch it evolve) and a long, smooth and chalky finish. This wine has a mass-appeal, sip it or drink with smoked, BBQ’d or grilled foods; drink now - 2020 (screw cap). My impression: NICE to BEAUTIFUL, 90-91 pts - $5 off definitely makes this wine more attractive. Tasted May/13.
See my wine recommendations readily available at the LCBO here:
http://grapeselections.com/grapeselections
or here @
http://www.winealign.com/wino/dantrcka/recommended-wines-you-can-still-buy
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Muga Reserva 2008, Doc Rioja
Spain$23.95
The 2008 Muga Reserva has intense aromas of dusty cherry, pomegranate and cigar box. It is a medium bodied, extra-dry, integrated wine, with balanced structure of good acidity and refined tannins (decant for 30 min), and a long finish that is not oak dominated. This wine is food friendly as well as a sipper. It is ready to drink now and shall be for the next 10+ years. My impression: NICE, 90 pts – recommended buy based on both quality and value. Tasted January/13.
See my wine recommendations readily available at the LCBO here:
http://grapeselections.com/grapeselections and
http://grapeselections.com/grapeselections/lcbo-deals/
or here @
http://www.winealign.com/wino/dantrcka/recommended-wines-you-can-still-buy
4.0 Stars
(0)V