Dan Trcka
|
Followers (47)
|
|
|
Following (5)
|
Reviews (1016)
|
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
Château Des Charmes St. David's Bench Vineyard Gamay Noir Droit 2012, VQA St. David's Bench, Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$16.95
The 2012 Château des Charmes Gamay Noir ‘Droit’ sourced from the St. David’s Bench Vineyard, has elegant aromas of lightly earthy raspberry-cherry-blackberry fruit on both the nose and palate. It is a light to medium bodied, extra-dry, fruity wine; with refreshing acidity, soft tannins and a medium, smooth finish. It is a food friendly and sipping wine – the soft tannins allow it to pair well with cured meats (sausages, prosciutto, jamon iberico), drink from now to 2018-20 (cork enclosure). My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 90-91 pts - recommended for both its quality and value - do not hesitate to get several before they sell out. Tasted in Sep/15.
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
Trius Showcase Chardonnay Wild Ferment Oliveira Vineyard 2012, VQA Lincoln Lakeshore
Ontario, Canada$36.20
The 2012 Trius Wild Ferment Chardonnay was sourced from Lincoln Lakeshore and then aged for 11 months in French Oak barrels; has attractive notes of lees, gooseberry and vanilla. It is a light to medium bodied, extra-dry, fruity wine; with good acidity, slight fizz and a medium finish. This is a food friendly wine; drink for the next few years (cork enclosure). My impression: NICE, 89 pts. 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
Dr. Hermann Erdener Treppchen Kabinett Riesling 2010, Pradikätswein
Mosel, Germany$17.95
The 2010 Dr. Hermann Erdener Treppchen Kabinett Riesling has seductive aromas of honey, petrol, slight burnt match and linden on the nose as well as gooseberry and petrol on the finish. It is a medium bodied, medium-sweet, fruity to integrated wine; with acidity that is not able to balance the body and sweetness, and a medium to long, finish. This wine is both, food friendly and a sipper; drink now to 2020 – no further cellaring potential (screw cap enclosure). My impression: NICE to BEAUTIFUL, 89 pts – recommended for its value. Tasted in Mar/15.
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
Giacosa Basarin Vigna Gianmaté Barbaresco 2007, Docg
Piedmont, Italy$39.95
The 2007 Giacosa Basarin Vigna Gianmaté Barbaresco is a light to medium bodied, integrated wine, with intense aromas of cherry, pine, vanilla and liquorice. It is tannic (decant for 1+ hours) and has a long finish. Sip by itself or drink with salty yet non-dominant foods; drink now-2023. My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 90-91 pts - reasonably priced and a recommended buy. Tasted Jan/13.
http://grapeselections.com/grapeselections
or here @
http://www.winealign.com/wino/dantrcka/recommended-wines-you-can-still-buy
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Ascheri Barolo Pisapola 2006, Doc Barolo
Piedmont, Italy$42.95
The 2006 Ascheri Barolo Pisapola is a light bodied, integrated wine with nice aromas or dried red fruit, rose and liquorice. Tannins are refined (decant for 30 min) and the finish is medium to long. Drink now or cellar for the next 5 or so years, but don't expect much of improvement. My impression: NICE, 89 pts - quite pricey for what it is. There are currently available cheaper Nebbiolos of better quality. Tasted Jan/12.
If you would like to see wines I recommend and that are still available at the LCBO, please visit this link (listed in my profile):
http://www.winealign.com/wino/dantrcka/recommended-wines-you-can-still-buy
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Geografico Pulleraia 2006, Igt Toscana
Tuscany, Italy$29.95
The 2006 Geografico Pulleraia is a medium bodied wine made of 100% Merlot that was aged in oak for 12 months. It is nicely aromatic with integrated notes of black berries, oak, vanilla and coconut. Tannins are refined to tannic (decant for 30 to 60 min) and the finish is medium to long. I would not recommend aging this wine any longer, since despite its length, the cork was soaked all the way to the top (all 3 bottles opened). My impression: NICE to BEAUTIFUL, 90 pts. Tasted in Nov/10 during Italian wine tasting where it was quite liked.
If you would like to see wines I recommend and that are still available at the LCBO, please visit this link (listed in my profile):
http://www.winealign.com/wino/dantrcka/recomended-wines-you-can-still-buy
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Navarro Correas Alegoria Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Reserva 2007, Mendoza
Argentina$20.00
The 2007 Navarro Correas Alegoria Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Reserva, aged in French oak for 18 months, is a medium to full bodied, fruity to integrated wine, with intense aromas of black currant, blackberry, oak and subtle vanilla. It is slightly acidic, has tannins that are refined to tannic (decant for 15 to 30 min) and a long finish. Drink now or cellar till 2020. My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 90 pts - excellent buy for $16.20 (originally for $19.95) - pick up the few remaining bottles. Tasted Mar/12.
If you would like to see wines I recommend and that are still available at the LCBO, please visit this link (listed in my profile):
http://www.winealign.com/wino/dantrcka/recommended-wines-you-can-still-buy
4.0 Stars
Pecchenino San Giuseppe Barolo 2005, Docg
Piedmont, Italy$44.95
The 2005 Pecchenino San Giuseppe Barolo, which has spent 24 months in oak barrels, has a light to medium body with intense aromas of integrated red currant, cedar, delicate vanilla and liquorice. Tannins are refined (decant for longer than 30 min to fully open up) and the finish is long and smooth. Great to drink now, but will also hold for another 10+ years for sure. My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 92 pts - I nice Barolo for amazing price, great value and a recommended buy. Tasted Nov/10.
If you would like to see wines I recommend and that are still available at the LCBO, please visit this link (listed in my profile):
http://www.winealign.com/wino/dantrcka/recomended-wines-you-can-still-buy
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Ornellaia Le Serre Nuove Dell'ornellaia 2008, Doc Bolgheri Superiore
Tuscany, Italy$59.95
The 2008 Ornellaia Le Serre Nuove Dell'ornellaia is a blend composed of 50% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petit Verdot. It is medium bodied with nice aromas of integrated raspberry, prune, liquorice and smoky oak. Initially, the wine is a bit bretty, which goes away after some time in the decanter. The tannins are dusty and refined to tannic (decant between 1 to 2 hours) and the finish is long, smooth and with a bit of a minerality. It is good to drink now, but will nicely evolve for the next 10 years. My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 91.5 pts - recommended for a special occasion. Tasted Dec/10.
If you would like to see wines I recommend and that are still available at the LCBO, please visit this link (listed in my profile):
http://www.winealign.com/wino/dantrcka/recomended-wines-you-can-still-buy
4.0 Stars
(0)V