Dan Trcka
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Followers (47)
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Following (5)
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Reviews (1015)
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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
Coto De Imaz Gran Reserva 2001
Rioja, Spain$30.95
The 2001 Coto De Imaz Gran Reserva, composed of 100% Tempranillo and aged in French and American oak for 24 months, is a medium bodied, integrated to aged wine, with intense aromas of red berries, cherry, vanilla, coconut, toasted oak and faint leather. It has a nice structure with refined tannins (decant for 15-30 min) and an extra long finish, making it an ideal sipping wine (don't waste it with food, cherish it). It is ready to drink now and will last for at least another 5+ years. My impression: BEAUTIFUL to DIVINE, 92+ points - this is the best traditional Rioja that LCBO has released in at least a year. Tasted June, July and Aug/12.
See my wine recommendations readily available at the LCBO here:
www.GrapeSelections.com
or here @
http://www.winealign.com/wino/dantrcka/recommended-wines-you-can-still-buy
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Yabby Lake Vineyard Pinot Noir 2010, Mornington Peninsula
Victoria, Australia$32.75
The 2010 Yabby Lake Vineyard Pinot Noir, a blend of MV6 (80%) and Pommard, G5V15, and 115 clones making up the remainder - all sourced from the Mornington Peninsula; has captivating, intense aromas of almond, cigar box, black currant and raspberry. It is a medium bodied, extra-dry, integrated wine; balanced with good acidity, refined, dusty tannins and a long and smooth finish. This is a sipping wine; drink now to 2020+. My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 93 pts – recommended for its quality.
Tasted at Australia Today 2014 Trade show http://grapeselections.com/australian-wine/ in Feb/14.
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
Domaine Des Bernardins Muscat De Beaumes-de-venise 2009, Ac, Vin Doux Naturel
Rhône, France$13.45
The 2009 Domaine Des Bernardins Muscat De Beaumes De Venise is a full bodied wine, with intense notes of honey, citrus, roses and other floral aromas. It is quite sweet, yet not syrupy and has a long and floral finish. Can be drunk now and should age well for another 5+ years. Drink-how: excellent desert wine. My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 90 pts. Tasted Aug/12.
See my wine recommendations readily available at the LCBO here:
www.GrapeSelections.com
or here @
http://www.winealign.com/wino/dantrcka/recommended-wines-you-can-still-buy
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Pirramimma Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Mclaren Vale, South Australia
Australia$23.95
I got this wine as a delayed birthday present and what a treat that was. This medium bodied Cab is integrated with pronounced aromas of black currant and cedar and subtle notes of strawberry and vanilla. Tannins are dusty and refined to tannic (decant for about an hour) and the finish is smooth and long. It’s good to drink now, but if you wait for couple of years, you will be nicely rewarded. Expected aging potential is up to 2016 to 2018. I must note that it has been a while since I had Australian red with a traditional cork. This wine reminds me of Cipressi Macchiarossa 2005, though a bit younger. My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 91 pts - a recommended buy. Tasted Aug/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
Penfolds Bin 128 Shiraz 2006, Coonawarra, South Australia
Australia$27.75
This medium bodied Shiraz has aromas of black currant, black cherry, blackberry and cedar. It is smooth, with refined tannins and medium finish. It has the potential to evolve in the next few years to a decade, but can be drunk now. My impression: NICE to BEAUTIFUL. Tasted Dec/09.
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
Alvaro Castro Red 2008, Doc Dão
Dão, Portugal$17.95
The 2008 Alvaro Castro is a light to medium bodied, fruity to integrated wine, with intense aromas of ripe red currant, blackberry and oak. Though on the acidic side, it has a good structure with refined tannins (decant for 30-60 min) and a medium to long, fruit filled finish. Drink now and for the next 2-4 years. It has typical regional character, which in this case translates into food friendly wine. My impression: NICE, 88-89 pts. Tasted July/12.
See my wine recommendations readily available at the LCBO here:
www.GrapeSelections.com
or here @
http://www.winealign.com/wino/dantrcka/recommended-wines-you-can-still-buy
4.0 Stars
(0)V
La Bastide Saint Dominique Châteauneuf-du-pape 2009, Ac
Rhône, France$42.95
The 2009 La Bastide Saint Dominique Châteauneuf Du Pape is medium bodied, FRUITY to integrated wine, with nice aromas of yogurty cherry and red currant. It is slightly sweet, with nice balance of acid and refined tannins (decant for 15 to 30 min) and the finish is medium, bit alcoholic at 15.5% and somewhat tangy. This wine should definitely be aged as it is too young and it will do so nicely for more than a decade - try around 2014. My impression: NOTHING SPECIAL to NICE, 87 pts - while looking at the other reviews, I am starting to wonder if I am reviewing the same bottle, but having time to pay attention to the entire bottle (not alone), I must stand by my review. Tasted Aug/11.
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
Masi Costasera Amarone 2006, Veneto
Veneto, Italy$41.95
This lightly aromatic, medium bodied Amarone has fruity to integrated notes of cherry, black currant, chocolate and green pepper. The tannins are subtle (decant for 30 min) and the finish is medium. It should be at it’s best sometime in 2011-2013. My impression: NICE. However, I would not buy it again as I consider the price to be too high. I have tried some Ripassos that performed better for under $20. Tasted Mar/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)G
Sette Ponti Oreno 2009, Igt Toscana
Tuscany, Italy$71.95
The 2009 Oreno Tezuta Sette Ponti is intense on the nose with cut hay, cherry, pine, oak, anise, vanilla and prune notes. It is a medium to full bodied, extra-dry, integrated wine, with notable acidity and tannins (decant for 2+ hours at which point the wine's acidity & tannins integrate together) and a medium to long, silky, finish. Drink as a sipper; drink 2018-2030 (cork is long and quite thick), evolution potential of +1 or 2 pts. My impression: NICE to BEAUTIFUL, 91 pts - for connoisseurs with a deep cellar and a pocket. Tasted June/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
Osoyoos Larose Le Grand Vin 2006, VQA Okanagan Valley
British Columbia, Canada$44.95
The 2006 Osoyoos Larose Le Grand Vin has a medium body with nice aromas of integrated black cherry/blackberry, prune, coffee, violets and cedar. It is tannic (decant for more than half hour) and the finish is medium to long. Even though would benefit from 1-2 years of aging, it can be drunk now and definitely can be cellared for the next 10 or so years. I find the 2006 vintage much more appealing than the 2005 one, as it is less perfumed with floral aromas and more infused with fruit flavours. My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 91 pts. Tasted Oct/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