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
Fuligni Brunello Di Montalcino 2003, Docg
Tuscany, Italy$53.95
The 2003 Fuligni Brunello Di Montalcino is medium bodied, with intense aromas of INTEGRATED to aged red berries (namely red currant), leather, cedar, vanilla and liquorice. Tannins are refined to tannic (decant more than an hour) and the finish is medium to long. This wine is wonderful to drink now, but still has a potential to age and can last for more than 10 years. My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 91.5 pts - would recommend. 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/recommended-wines-you-can-still-buy.
4.5 Stars
(0)V
Penfolds St. Henri Shiraz 2005, South Australia
Australia$74.95
The 2005 Penfolds St. Henri Shiraz, aged in oak for 16 months, is a medium to full bodied, integrated wine, with intense aromas of blackberry, caramel/dark chocolate, leather, toasted oak and vanilla. It is somewhat unbalanced, with high acidity, tannins that are refined to tannic (decant for 1 or more hours) and a finish that is long, but tangy. Can be cellared for 10+ years and cellaring may bring the structure into balance. My impression: NICE to BEAUTIFUL, 91 pts - though having high complexity, the unbalanced structure forbids higher score. Quite $$$ for what it is. Tasted Apr/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
4.5 Stars
(0)V
Col D'orcia Poggio Al Vento Brunello Di Montalcino Riserva 2004
Tuscany, Italy$109.50
The 2004 Col D'Orcia Poggio Al Vento Riserva Brunello Di Montalcino, aged in oak for 48 months before bottling, has intense bouquet of violets, cherry, clove, fennel and light lees on the nose and cherry and cranberry on the palate. The wine is light to medium bodied, extra-dry, integrated to aged; with good/refreshing acidity, refined tannins and a long finish. Drink now – 2020+. My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 92-93 pts – recommended for its quality. Tasted Mar/14 http://grapeselections.com/benvenuto-brunello/
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
4.5 Stars
Casa Lapostolle Clos Apalta 2009
Chile$125.00
This medium to full bodied wine has intensely aromatic, integrated notes of black currant, violets, cedar, coconut and vanilla. The tannins are refined (decant for 30 min) and the finish is long and smooth. This wine can still evolve for the next ten years, but is great to drink now. My impression BEAUTIFUL to DIVINE, 93 pts. Tasted July/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
4.5 Stars
(0)V
Col D'orcia Poggio Al Vento Brunello Di Montalcino Riserva 2006
Tuscany, Italy$79.25
The 2006 Col D'Orcia Poggio Al Vento Riserva Brunello Di Montalcino that was aged in oak for 48 months, has intense aromas of dried cherry, cranberry, cigar box, wood and clove. The wine is light to medium bodied, extra-dry, integrated; with forward acidity, dusty tannins and a long finish. Drink now – 2024. My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 91-92 pts - recommended for its quality. Tasted Mar/14 http://grapeselections.com/benvenuto-brunello/
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
4.5 Stars
(0)
Silver Oak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
California, Usa$204.95
The 2009 Silver Oak Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, sourced from Napa Valley, has intense aromas of red and black currants, vanilla, coconut and oak. It is a medium bodied, extra-dry, fruity wine; with refreshing acidity, refined/dusty tannins and a long and silky finish. Enjoy this heavily oak influenced wine on-its-own; drink now to 2018+. My impression: NICE, 89 pts – recommended for its quality. Tasted in Apr/14 at 'California Wine Fair' 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
4.5 Stars
(0)V
Donatella Cinelli Colombini Brunello Di Montalcino Riserva 2007
Tuscany, Italy$69.95
The 2007 Donatella Cinelli Colombini Riserva Brunello Di Montalcino has captivating bouquet of mushrooms, barnyard and dried cherry on the nose and pomegranate, dried cherry, vanilla and wood on the palate. It is a medium bodied, extra-dry, integrated wine; BALANCED with forward acidity, dusty tannins and a long, smooth and silky finish. Drink now – 2025+. My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 94+ pts – recommended for its quality. This wine will be available as 'future classics' at the LCBO. Tasted Mar/14 http://grapeselections.com/benvenuto-brunello/
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
4.5 Stars
Reichsgraf Von Kesselstatt Nies'chen Riesling Kabinett 2006, Pradikätswein
Mosel, Germany$19.95
The 2006 Reichsgraf Von Kesselstatt Kaseler Nies'chen Riesling Kabinett made in a winery that has existed for over 650 years, has alluring aromas of gooseberry, tangerine, honeydew melon, subtle honey and petrol on the nose and lemon, tangerine, ripe pear and gooseberry on the palate. It is a medium bodied, dry to off-dry, fruity to integrated wine; with refreshing acidity and a medium to long, lightly oily finish. Though it is a food friendly wine to pair with sweet fruits or desert, I would recommend enjoying it on-its-own; drink now - 2024 (cork enclosure). My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 92 pts – highly recommended for its quality and value, stock up. Tasted in Sep/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
4.5 Stars
(0)V
Barossa Valley Estate Ebenezer Shiraz 2007, Barossa Valley, South Australia
South Australia, Australia$39.95
The 2007 Barossa Valley Estate Ebenezer Shiraz, aged in French Oak for 12 months, has luscious aromas of black currant, cedar, thyme, stems and subtle vanilla and lees on the nose and black currant, black berry, toast and woodiness on the palate. It is a full bodied, extra-dry/dry, fruity to integrated wine; with slightly sharp acidity, refined tannins (decant for 15 min) and a long and smooth finish. This big boy is definitely a sipper; drink now and for the next 5-7 years (screw cap enclosure). My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 91-92 pts – recommended for its quality. Tasted in Jan/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
4.5 Stars
(0)V
Tantalus Chardonnay 2011
British Columbia, Canada$29.90
The 2011 Tantalus Chardonnay, made from fruit sourced from vines planted in 1985 that after fermenting was aged in new and old French barrels for total of 13 months; has delicate aromas of green and yellow apple on the nose and gooseberry, oak and vanilla on the palate. It is a medium bodied, extra-dry, fruity wine; with refreshing acidity and a medium to long, smooth finish. It is food friendly and enjoyable on its own; drink now and for the next few years (cork enclosure). My impression: NICE to BEAUTIFUL, 90 pts – recommended for its quality. 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
4.5 Stars