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
Montes Purple Angel 2007
Colchagua Valley, Chile$59.95
The 2007 Montes Purple Angel, composed of 92% Carmenere and 8 % Petit Verdot that was aged in new French Oak barrels for 18 months, is a medium to full bodied, integrated wine, with intense aromas of blackberry, blueberry, cedar, oak and green pepper on the nose and blackberry, oak, vanilla and coconut on the palate. It has refined tannins (decant for 30 min +) and a long to extra long finish. Drink with a meal if desired, but this wine is meant to be enjoyed by itself. My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 92-93 pts. Tasted Sept/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
4.5 Stars
(0)V
Genium Celler Costers Iv De Guarda 2005, Do Priorat
Priorat, Spain$58.00
The 2005 Genium Celler Costers Iv De Guarda is medium bodied, nicely aromatic, integrated wine. The nose shows black cherry, faint musk and oak; whereas the palate displays cedar, oak and dill. Tannins are refined to tannic (decant for 1 hour), the acidity is in nice balance with tannins and the finish is long and smooth. It is ready to drink now or cellar for 5 to 10 years. My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 92 pts - a bit pricey (at least in Canada, I purchased it in Barcelona for €19.90 = $28), but recommended anyway. Tasted June/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)
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
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
Descendientes De J. Palacios Villa De Corullón 2009
Galicia, Spain$50.00
The 2009 Descendientes De J. Palacios Villa De Corullón is a medium bodied, integrated wine, with intense aromas of red berries, violets/wild roses, oak, coconut and vanilla. It has forward acidity, refined tannins and a long finish. Still young now, drink 2014-2018. My impression: NICE, 90 pts.
Tasted during 'The Wines of Alvaro Palacios' tasting organized by WineAlign on March 19th, 2012.
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
Two Hands Bella's Garden Shiraz 2009, Barossa Valley
South Australia, Australia$63.95
The 2009 Two Hands Bella's Garden Shiraz, aged in French Oak for 18 months, was ranked #35 on the 2011 Wine Spectator Top 100 wines. It is a medium bodied, integrated to aged wine, with intense aromas of black currant, blackberry, bilberry, smoke, violets, clove and pronounced black pepper. It has a focused structure with refined tannins (decant for 30-60 min) and a long finish. This wine should be enjoyed by itself in a special company; drink now or hold for another 10 years. My impression: DIVINE, 93 pts - definitely a recommended buy. Tasted Sept/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
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Alvaro Palacios Finca Dofí 2009
Priorat, Spain$90.00
The 2009 Álvaro Palacios Finca Dofí is a medium bodied, integrated wine, with intense aromas of both red and black fruit: namely black cherry, black currant and plum as well as faint vanilla and toasted oak. It is well balanced, with refined tannins and a long and smooth finish. Though enjoyable now, this wine can age for the next 10+ years - drink now-2025. My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 92 pts.
Tasted during 'The Wines of Alvaro Palacios' tasting organized by WineAlign on March 19th, 2012.
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)
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
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