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
Stonestreet Monument Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County
California, Usa$52.95
The 2010 Stonestreet Monument Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon, sourced from Alexander Valley in Sonoma County, has appealing aromas of cigar box, wood, cherry and vanilla on the nose and pomegranate, cherry, dates, vanilla and tobacco on the palate. It is a medium bodied, extra-dry, integrated wine; with refreshing acidity, refined tannins and a medium to long finish. This is a food friendly and sipping wine; drink now to 2020. My impression: NICE to BEAUTIFUL, 90 pts – recommended for 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
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Stoneleigh Latitude Pinot Noir 2012, Marlborough, South Island
Marlborough, New Zealand$20.75
The 2012 Stoneleigh Latitude Pinot Noir, aged for 10 months in French and Hungarian oak, has intense bouquet of pomegranate, dates, smoke and subtle nutmeg and clove. It is a medium bodied, extra-dry, fruity wine, with balanced acidity, subtle-refined tannins and a long, vanilla filled finish. Sip on its own; drink now or keep for the next 5+ years. My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 91 pts. Tasted in May/13 at 'Tasted at New Zealand Wine Fair' http://grapeselections.com/new-zealand-wine-fair/.
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
Sella & Mosca Riserva Cannonau Di Sardegna 2010, Doc
Sardinia, Italy$17.95
The 2010 Sella & Mosca Cannonau di Sardegna Riserva, composed of 100% Cannonau that was aged 2 years in large Slavonian Oak barrels; has appealing aromas of old wood, dark chocolate, dried cherry and spice on the nose and dried cherry + pomegranate and wood on the palate. It is a medium bodied, extra-dry, integrated to aged wine; with good acidity, refined tannins (decant for 30+ min) and a medium to long finish. Enjoy it by itself or with food; drink now and for another 5+ years (cork enclosure). My impression: quite NICE, 89 pts – recommended for its quality and 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
3.5 Stars
(0)G
Burrowing Owl Chardonnay 2012, BC VQA Okanagan Valley
British Columbia, Canada$34.95
The 2012 Burrowing Owl Estate Winery Chardonnay, aged in French and American oaks (90%/10%) for 9 months, has creamy aromas of sweet vanilla, toast, oak and ripe apple on the nose and yellow apple, toast, vanilla and oak on the palate. It is a medium bodied, extra-dry, fruity to integrated wine; with lively acidity and a long, creamy finish. This is a food friendly and sipping wine; drink now and for the next 5 years (screw enclosure). My impression: NICE to BEAUTIFUL, 90 pts – recommended for its quality. Tasted in Nov/14 at '' 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
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Château Des Charmes Estate Bottled Chardonnay Musqué 2012, Estate Bottled, VQA Niagara On The Lake
Ontario, Canada$13.75
The 2012 Château Des Charmes Chardonnay Musqué has fragrant aromas of lime, Bartlett pear and yellow apple on the nose, while the palate consists of lemon, pear, yellow apple and subtle toasted notes. It is a light to medium bodied, extra-dry, fruity wine; with refreshing acidity and a medium to long, lightly oily finish. It is a food friendly wine; drink now to 2018 (screw cap enclosure). My impression: NICE, 87-88 pts. Tasted in Jun/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
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Gianni Brunelli Rosso Di Montalcino 2011
Tuscany, Italy$34.00
The 2011 Gianni Brunelli Le Chiuse Di Sotto Rosso di Montalcino has intense aromas of cranberry, cherry, lees, and wood. It is a light to medium bodied, extra-dry, integrated wine; with good acidity, grippy/drying tannins and a medium finish. The wine will benefit from further aging; drink 2016-2025+. My impression: NICE, 89-90 pts. Tasted in Mar/14 at 'Benvenuto Brunello' 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
3.5 Stars
Fielding Cabernet Franc 2012, VQA Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$21.95
The 2012 Fielding Cabernet Franc, aged in French and American Oaks for one year, has subtle aromas of rosehip, red currant and subtle lees on the nose and cranberry, red currant, oak and vanilla on the palate. It is a light to medium bodied, extra-dry, fruity to integrated wine; with forward acidity, drying tannins and medium to long finish that is dominated by oak, overpowering the fruit. This is food friendly wine; drink 2015 to 2018 (screw cap enclosure). My impression: NICE, 88 pts. Tasted in Oct/14 at 'Taste Ontario 2014' http://grapeselections.com/taste-ontario-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
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Rosewood Lock, Stock & Barrel 2012, VQA Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$34.00
The 2012 Rosewood Estates Lock, Stock & Barrel, composed of 32% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Petit Verdot and 9% Malbec and aged for 16 months in French Oak; has alluring aromas of dark chocolate, blackberry, black cherry, oak, light toast and faint vanilla on the nose and black fruits – blackberry, black currant and black cherry, together with sweat vanillin, creamy coconut and light wood on the palate. It is a medium to full bodied, extra-dry, integrated wine; with sharp, yet refreshing acidity, dusty tannins and a long and smooth finish. This big wine is a sipper so enjoy on-its-own; cellar this wine for couple of years to allow the acidity and tannins to blend together and the body to develop more aged aromas (evolution potential +1) drink 2015 to 2025+ (cork enclosure). My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 91 (+1 Ep) pts – recommended for its quality. Tasted in Oct/14 at 'Taste Ontario 2014' http://grapeselections.com/taste-ontario-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
3.5 Stars
Te Pā Pinot Noir 2011
Marlborough, New Zealand$35.95
The 2011 Te Pā Family Vineyards Pinot Noir, sourced from a 10 year old vines, has alluring aromas of smoke, wood, vanilla, cedar, barnyard, red currant and raspberry on the nose and pomegranate, red currant and vanilla on the palate. It is a medium bodied, extra-dry/dry, fruity wine; with crisp acidity, subtle/refined tannins and a medium to long finish. This is a food friendly as well as sipping wine; drink for the next 3-5+ years (screw cap enclosure). My impression: NICE, 89 pts - recommended for its quality. Tasted in May/14 at 'Tasted during New Zealand in a glass tasting' http://grapeselections.com/new-zealand-fair-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
3.5 Stars
Chateau Des Charmes Sauvignon Blanc 2013, St. David's Bench VQA
Ontario, Canada$14.95
The 2013 Château des Charmes Sauvignon Blanc, sourced from St. David’s Bench Vineyard in Niagara-on-the-Lake; has upfront herbal to even cut-grass aromas, followed by lemon and yellow apple notes; the palate sees more lemon and apple with a touch of honey, in what is a surprisingly rich mouthfeel, often seen in Chardonnays. It is a light bodied, perceivably extra-dry, fruity wine; with refreshing acidity and a medium finish. Enjoy this wine with food; drink now and for the next few years (screw cap enclosure). My impression: NICE, 87 pts. Tasted in Nov/14.
See my wine recommendations readily available at the LCBO here:
http://grapeselections.com/grapeselections
or here @
3.5 Stars
(0)G