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
Benziger Syrah 2006, North Coast
California, Usa$19.95
The integrated, medium to full bodied 2006 Benziger Syrah has a nice bouquet of pronounced vanilla-coconut, followed by less intense wood and oak and with delicate yogurty strawberry/blueberry aromas. It has refined tannins (decant for 15 to 30 min) and a long and smooth finish. It is ready to drink now but will nicely age for the next 5 to 10 years. My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 92 pts - a definite recommendation, especially at this price. Tasted Dec/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
G. D. Vajra Albe Barolo 2005, Docg
Piedmont, Italy$26.85
The 2005 G. D. Vajra Albe Barolo is medium bodied wine with nice, FRUITY to integrated aromas of raspberry, red currant and cedar. It is tannic (decant for around an hour) and the finish is smooth and medium to long. It is best to lay it away for several years for it to evolve. My impression: very NICE, 89.5. Even though a quite nice wine, this wine is not the typical Barolo that one would expect and so for that reason I would not recommend it. Tasted in Nov/10 during Italian wine tasting, where it was well received until people realized that it was a Barolo.
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
Mission Hill Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2008, VQA Okanagan Valley
British Columbia, Canada$27.95
The 2008 Mission Hill Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is medium bodied with nice, FRUITY to integrated notes of strawberry, cherry that are a tad yogurty. It is tannic (decant for 15-30 min, which won't change the tannins) with medium, smooth and chalky finish. It will benefit from aging, best 2012 to 2016 and can age even more. My impression: NICE (I love tannic wines). I dubbed it a 'tannic strawberry', earning it a mere 87.5 pts - not a recommended buy due to disproportional cost. 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/recomended-wines-you-can-still-buy
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Luis Felipe Edwards Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Colchagua Valley
Chile$16.95
This 2007 Gran Reserva Cabernet has a medium to full body with fruity notes of blackberry, prune and a tough of green pepper/cedar. Tannins are refined to tannic (decant for 30 min) and the finish is medium to long. I find this wine a bit too acidic and can definitely benefit from ageing; best 2013-2018. My impression: very NICE, 88 pts, couple of dollars above the correct price. 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/recomended-wines-you-can-still-buy
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Frescobaldi Tenuta Di Castiglioni 2008, Igt Toscana
Tuscany, Italy$21.95
The 2008 Marchesi De' Frescobaldi Tenuta Di Castiglioni is medium bodied, with FRUITY to integrated notes of bretty/yogurty blueberry and some oak. Tannins are refined to tannic (decant for 30 min) and the finish is short to medium. It is quite disjoint, but should get better with age in the next 3-6 years. My impression: NOTHING SPECIAL, 86.5 - quite a disappointing Marchesi De' Frescobaldi product and perhaps that is why the LCBO re-released it (first released Oct30/10 then Feb19/11). It cannot compare to the 2006 or 2007 vintage, especially at this price - the LCBO stocks speak for them selfs. 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
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Juan Gil Silver Label 2007
Murcia, Spain$23.95
The 2007 Juan Gil Silver Label, which is made of 100% Monastrell aged in French oak for 12 months, has a medium body that is FRUITY to integrated and has inviting aromas of prune, caramel, cut hay and some coconut smoothness. Tannins are refined (decant for 15 to 30 min) and the finish is medium and a bit chalky. Surprisingly, this wine has 15% alcohol, which I would have not guessed, as the flavour intensity, acidity and tannins are nicely balanced. It can be enjoyed now, though would benefit from cellaring for couple of years and can be easily aged for another 10+ years. My impression: NICE to BEAUTIFUL, 89 pts - a recommended buy. 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/recomended-wines-you-can-still-buy
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Bertani Villa Arvedi Amarone Della Valpolicella 2006, Doc, Valpantena
Veneto, Italy$28.75
The 2006 Bertani Villa Arvedi Amarone Della Valpolicella is a medium bodied, integrated wine, with intense aromas of red berries - red currant, cherry, pomegranate; caramel and oak. Though alcoholic at 15%, it has a good structure with grippy tannins (decant for 1 hour) and a long and clean finish. Ready to drink now or can be cellared (though not meant to) for another 5+ years. My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 91 pts - this is a sipping wine, not food friendly. Tasted March/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
(0)V
Clos De Los Siete 2008, Mendoza
Mendoza, Argentina$23.95
The 2008 Clos De Los Siete was originally released on April 31st, 2011 and then re-released on December 10th, 2011. It quickly disappeared on the first release (I purchased one bottle - one I review here). This wine is medium to full bodied, fruity to INTEGRATED, with nice notes of overripe cherry/black cherry on the nose and blueberry and subtle oak on the palate. It has a nice structure with refined tannins (decant for 30 min) and a medium, silky finish. Drink it now only to get an impression of how it will evolve in the next 4-5 years after which it should drink nicely for another 5 or more years. My impression: NICE (not there yet), 89.5 pts - I would recommend purchasing a couple of bottles only to see how they evolve in the next 5+ years. Tasted 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
(0)V
Bodegas Franco Espanolas Rioja Bordón Reserva 2004, Doca Rioja
Spain$19.95
The 2004 Bodegas Franco Espanolas Rioja Bordón Reserva is actually 80% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacha and 5% Carignan/Cariñena/Mazuelo (label on the bottle vs. LCBO description). It is medium bodied, with intense, INTEGRATED to aged notes of red berries including red currant, oak, coconut, vanilla and faint leather. Tannins are refined (decant for half to full hour) and the finish is long. It is best to drink now, but can hold for 5 more years, when leather and musky notes will emerge. My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 92 pts - a definitely recommended wine as there currently aren't any finer Rioja examples available (at least not at this price point) - just note it's Gold Medal. Tasted Dec/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