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
Bodegas Y Viñedos Alion 2007
Ribera Del Duero, Spain$79.00
The 2007 Bodegas Alion is a light to medium bodied, integrated wine, with intense aromas of cherry, chocolate and oak on the nose and cherry, nutmeg and faint vanilla on the palate. The structure is nice, with refreshing acidity, refined tannins (decant for 1 hour) and a medium to long finish. It will be better in couple of years and should be good for 10 or more years. My impression: NICE, 91.5 pts - (note; since this was a present, I tasted it blindly and though the wine is complex, I (we) deemed it to be just NICE and didn’t think it measured up to what one would expect reading the other reviews). Tasted Dec/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
4.5 Stars
(0)V
Frescobaldi Tenuta Di Castiglioni 2007, Igt Toscana
Tuscany, Italy$21.95
I am so glad LCBO re-released this wine on May 29/10, had no choice but to get a case. I made new review notes as soon as I purchased it, and they coincide with what I wrote below. Tasted again May/10. Recommended buy - get few bottles/case while there are some left.
I have tried the 2006 (released Aug15/09, 974394) alongside the 2007 (released Nov21/09, 145920). The 2007 vintage is smooth, aromatic, light to medium bodied with notes of cherry, black currant, coconut, oak, vanilla and smoke. It is tannic (needs at least an hour to open) and hence it can still benefit from aging for 5 to 10 years. The finish is nice and long and unfortunately I was only able to get a single bottle :-(. I would definitely like to try this wine again. My impression is somewhere between BEAUTIFUL to DIVINE. 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
Pirramimma Petit Verdot 2007, Mclaren Vale
South Australia, Australia$24.95
The 2007 Pirramimma Petit Verdot is medium to full bodied, FRUITY to integrated wine with nice aromas of raspberry/blackberry, cacao, leather, oak and dominating vanilla on the nose and coconut, blackberry and more vanilla on the palate. Tannins are refined (decant for 15 min) and the finish is long and silky. It is good to drink now or try cellaring for 5 to 10 years standing up (screw cap). My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 91-92 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
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, Coonawarra, South Australia, 53rd Vintage
South Australia, Australia$27.95
The 2008 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is a medium bodied, fruity to integrated wine. It has intense aromas of black currant, oak, coconut, vanilla and smoke on the nose and black currant and vanilla on the palate. It has a sharp acidity, refined tannins (decant for 30 min) and a long overoaked finish. Ready to drink now or can be cellared standing up (screw cap) for another 5-10 years. Drink-how: it is quite overpowering for most foods, good as a sipper - especially at parties as it has a mass appeal. My impression: NICE, 90-91 pts - though overoaked, for this level of complexity it's reasonably priced. 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
Helfrich Gewurztraminer 2010, Ac Alsace
Alsace, France$18.95
The 2010 Helfrich Gewurztraminer is a medium bodied, fruity wine, with intense aromas of honey, Muscat and lily. It has a distinct minerality and a medium, sweet finish. Drink-how: it is enjoyable as an aperitif - one glass at a time due to its sweetness. My impression: NICE, 89 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
Grant Burge Corryton Park Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Barossa
South Australia, Australia$32.95
The 2009 Grant Burge Corryton Park Cabernet Sauvignon spent 16 months in predominantly new French oak barrels. It is a medium bodied, fruity to integrated wine, with intense aromas of red currant, black cherry, faint leather and cedar. It has a nice structure with grippy tannins (decant for 30 to 60 min) and a long finish. It is ready to drink now, but will still evolve nicely for the next 10+ years. My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 92 pts - recommended buy. Tasted May/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
Sequillo Cellars Red 2009, Wo Swartland
Swartland, South Africa$23.90
The 2009 Sequillo Cellars Red is composed of Syrah, Mouvedre, Grenache, Carignan and Cinsault of unspecified proportions and was aged in French oak casks for a total of 24 months before bottling. It is a light bodied, fruity to integrated wine, with intense aromas of dark berries, rosehip, sweet cinnamon and faint liquorice. It lacks balance as it is on the acidic side and is somewhat alcoholic, without being supported by fruit. It has subtle to refined tannins (decant for 1+ hours) and has earthy/mineral finish of medium length. Drink now and for the next 2 years, as this wine was not meant to be aged (light body; composite, short cork). Though food friendly, the nice complexity would be completely masked, so I suggest to drink it as a sipper. My impression: NICE to BEAUTIFUL, 90-91 pts - though bit costly, give this one a try regardless - for lovers of light bodied wines. 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
Concha Y Toro Terrunyo Block 27 Carmenère 2007, Peumo, Cachapoal Valley
Rapel Valley, Chile$29.95
The 2007 Concha Y Toro Terrunyo Block 27 Carmenère is a medium to full bodied wine, with intensely aromatic notes of integrated chocolate, green pepper and oak on the nose and blackberry, coconut and vanilla on the palate. It is nicely structured/balanced with refined tannins (decanting for 1+ hour while sampling, will allow for evolution in the mouth to happen) and long and smooth finish. While perfectly good to drink now, it will benefit from further aging, try from 2013 to 2018. My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 92.5 - would recommend buying it if it was still available; curiously(?!?) it took less than 2 months for it to sell out - must be due to the nice wooden 6-bottle case, rarely seen supplied with wines at this price. 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
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Kooyong Ferrous Pinot Noir 2009, Mornington Peninsula
Victoria, Australia$59.75
The 2009 Kooyong Ferrous Pinot Noir, sourced from the cool Mornington Peninsula, has appealing aromas of yogurt, lees, cranberry and wood on the nose and cranberry, pomegranate, strawberry, raspberry, wood and vanilla on the palate. It is a light to medium bodied, extra-dry fruity to integrated wine; balanced with good, crisp acidity, drying tannins and a medium finish. This is a food friendly, sipping wine; put away for couple of years – drink 2016-2020+. My impression: NICE to BEAUTIFUL, 90 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
Grant Burge 10 Year Old Tawny, Barossa, South Australia
South Australia, Australia$30.95
The Grant Burge 10 Year Old Tawny is a Gold Medal winner of the 2010 New Zealand International Wine Show. This complex desert wine has intense aromas of caramel, pecan, toasted oak and tobacco leaves. While able to age for the next 20-30 years, due to enjoyment, it won't last a month. My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 92 pts - recommended buy. Tasted May/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