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
Vecchia Cantina Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano 2007
Tuscany, Italy$18.95
The 2007 Vecchia Cantina Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano is a medium to full bodied wine, with nice aromas of integrated strawberry, cherry, oak and coconut. It has a nice, food friendly structure with refined tannins (decant for 15 to 30 min) and a smooth, medium to long finish. Drink now or cellar for 5 to 10 years. My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 90 pts - recommended buy. Tasted Oct/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
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Domaine Puig Parahy Georges 2007, Ac Côtes De Roussillon
Languedoc, France$17.95
This light bodied, fruity wine has aromas of strawberry, black cherry and Earth. It is tannic with dusty tannins (decant for more than 1 hr - the longer you do, the more enjoyable it will be) and has a medium, uneventful and a bit metallic finish. It can be drunk now or can age for 5 or more years. When it comes to evolution, I don't expect it to evolve well as the fruit aromas are already quite light and once the overwhelming tannins (and I am a fan of tannins) mellow out, there will be no fruit left. The wine was not aged in oak to "preserve" the fruit flavours, so I would not expect any floral, spicy or animal notes to come forth. I am not surprised this wine is $14 (cheap for France), but I am surprised that several critics gave it such a high review. My impression: NOTHING SPECIAL to NICE. I only gave it 87 pts due to my rounding up rule. Tasted May/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
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Château Puech Haut Prestige Saint Drézéry 2009, Dop Languedoc
Languedoc, France$26.95
The 2009 Château Puech Haut Prestige is a full bodied, FRUITY to integrated wine with intense aromas of bilberry, prune/caramel, cedar, oak and coconut. Tannins are refined (decant for 1 hour) and the finish is long and bit hot at 14.8%. This wine should be aged a bit longer as it will evolve nicely for the next 5 to 10 years. My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 91 pts - good value and thus a recommended buy. Tasted July/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
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Salcheto Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano 2005, Docg
Tuscany, Italy$24.95
The 2005 Salcheto Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano is nicely aromatic, medium bodied, integrated wine. On the nose, yogurt, cherry, coconut and vanilla can be noted, whereas the palate displays yogurty strawberry. Tannins are dusty and subtle to refined, acidity is nice and food friendly and finish is long. The wine should be decanted for up to 2 hours and tasted throughout as it changes quite noticeably; upon opening, the wine has more of a French character with strawberry yogurt notes (bit bretty), whereas later it loses this characteristic and changes into more of a typical Tuscan. My impression: NICE, 90 pts - a recommended buy. Tasted August/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/recomended-wines-you-can-still-buy
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Jean Paul Brun Côte De Brouilly 2009, Ac
Beaujolais, France$18.95
The 2009 Jean Paul Brun Côte De Brouilly is FRUITY to integrated, light bodied wine, with nice aromas of yogurty strawberry, prune and caramel. It has subtle tannins (decant for 15 min) and the finish is medium and a bit hot. It is good to drink now and should be for the next 1-2 years (not to be aged). My impression: NICE, 88 pts - it is quite impressive that the LCBO is able to charge $19 for Beaujolais, no matter how nice. 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.
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Concha Y Toro Marques De Casa Concha Carmenère 2009, Peumo Vineyard, Rapel Valley
Rapel Valley, Chile$17.00
The 2009 Concha Y Toro Marques De Casa Concha Carmenère is medium bodied, fruity to INTEGRATED wine, with nice aromas of blackberry, cedar, green pepper and vanilla. It is tannic (decant 30 to 60 min) and the finish is medium to long. It is good to drink now, but will benefit from aging as the structure is still a bit disconnected, drink 2013/4-2020. My impression: NICE to BEAUTIFUL, 90 pts - though a recommended buy, I cannot say it's the best value for the buck. Tasted Sept/11, revisited 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.
3.5 Stars
Le Clos Jordanne Le Clos Jordanne Vineyard Pinot Noir 2007, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Twenty Mile Bench
Ontario, Canada$45.00
This wine is light bodied (typical to Pinot Noirs), with nicely aromatic, integrated fruit, composed of raspberry, violets, oak and chocolate notes. It is slightly acidic, with subtle to refined tannins and a medium to long finish. Even though this wine can be cellared for some time, I am not sure it will evolve as the fruit will only dissipate and the woody notes may become too pronounced (not what I am looking for). Drink now for the next few years. My impression: NICE to BEAUTIFUL. 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
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Château Rouquette Sur Mer Cuvée Amarante 2007, Ac Côteaux Du Languedoc La Clape
Languedoc, France$17.95
Seeing the Wine Align reviews, I decided to give this wine a try; first in July with dinner and second in August during wine tasting with a group of friends. Each time, I did not "taste" what the other reviewers tasted. Every time, the wine seemed medium to full bodied, aromatic with fruity to integrated notes of cherry and black currant and with refined tannins. However, as my notes tell me, the two bottles differed considerably. The first time, the wine seemed somewhat sweet and my overall impression was NOTHING SPECIAL; the second time, the wine had a strong, unappealing smell of brettanomyces - reminiscent of spoiled yogurt. This time my (and others) impression was DRINKABLE BUT WHY. At this price range, I should expect to see consistency. Perhaps I purchased an odd bottle as the wine seems quite popular. I however would really not recommend it. Averaged 87 pts. Tasted July and August 2010.
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
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Carmen Gran Reserva Syrah 2009, Apalta
Colchagua Valley, Chile$17.95
The 2009 Carmen Gran Reserva (100%) Syrah, which was aged for 10 months in 60% French and 40% American oak barrels, has intense aromas of eucalyptus, stewed prunes, vanilla and oak. It is a full to thick bodied, extra-dry, fruity wine; balanced – with checked acidity, chalky mouthfeel, refined tannins (decant for 15 min) and a long finish. This one is a sipper: drink now or cellar till 2020+ as it has an evolution potential of +1 or 2 pts. My impression: NICE to BEAUTIFUL, 89-90 pts (+1 or 2) – recommended for its quality and value. Tasted at Wines of Chile 2013 tasting in October/13 - http://grapeselections.com/wines-of-chile-2013/
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
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Errázuriz Single Vineyard Don Maximiano Estate Carmenère 2008, Aconcagua Valley
Chile$19.95
This full bodied Carmenere has beautiful aromas of vanilla and black cherry and subtle notes of smoke, pine, green pepper and Earth. It has a bit disjoint composition until it really opens up (about 1 hr). It has subtle to refined tannins and a long, yet slightly metallic finish which doesn’t impede its quality. This wine is best when opened for 1.5 hrs until about 2.5 hours, after which it starts to slowly decay. I think it will be much better in couple of years when the flavours become more amalgamated. My impression: NICE to BEAUTIFUL. Buy 3-6 bottles for cellaring. Tasted Apr/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
3.5 Stars
(0)V