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
Santa Carolina Chardonnay Reserva 2010
Chile$11.95
The 2010 Santa Carolina Chardonnay Reserva has nice aromas of pear and faint, fresh coffee bean. It has a yellowish color, resulting from being aged in French oak for 6 months, which also adds to the longer finish. My impression: NICE, 88 pts. Tasted Sept/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)G
Cono Sur Syrah Reserva 2010, Colchagua Valley
Chile$8.95
The 2010 Cono Sur Syrah Reserva is a medium to full bodied, fruity wine, with appealing strawberry notes. It has refined, dusty tannins (decant for 15 min) and a medium finish. It will get better in the next couple of years or so and should be able to cellar for 5-10 years. My impression: NICE, 87.5 pts - good value from the general section and hence a recommended buy. Tasted Feb/12.
See my wine recommendations readily available at the LCBO @
www.GrapeSelections.com
or here @
http://www.winealign.com/wino/dantrcka/recommended-wines-you-can-still-buy
3.5 Stars
(0)A
Vitalonga Terra Di Confine 2006, Igt Umbria
Umbria, Italy$22.95
The 2006 Vitalonga Terra Di Confine is a medium bodied wine with nice aromas of integrated black cherry, pine, oak and vanilla. It is tannic (decant for longer than 1 hour) and with a nice long finish. For tannin lovers - drink now, other people should cellar it for 2-3 years at least and it will age nicely for 10+ years. My impression: NICE to BEAUTIFUL, 90 pts - a recommended buy. Tasted Aug/11.
See my wine recommendations readily available at the LCBO @ www.grapeselections.com
or here @
http://www.winealign.com/wino/dantrcka/recommended-wines-you-can-still-buy
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Cousiño-macul Antiguas Reservas Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Maipo Valley
Chile$16.45
This review is for the 2010 Cousiño Macul Antiguas Reservas Cabernet Sauvignon. It is a medium bodied, fruity wine, with appealing aromas of strawberry and raspberry on the nose and the palate. It has smooth tannins (decant for 30 min) and a medium-strawberry finish. Drink now or hold short term; food friendly. My impression: NICE, 88-89 pts. Tasted Nov/12.
The 2009 Cousiño Macul Antiguas Reservas Cabernet Sauvignon is a light to medium bodied, integrated wine, with nice aromas of strawberry, red currant, coffee fruit and smoke. It has a nice structure with refined tannins (decant from 15 to 60 min) and a medium finish. Drink now or hold short term. My impression: NICE, 89 pts - it is sold at the general section and for just a right price that was discounted to $15.45. Tasted Jan/12.
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
Finca Flichman Paisaje De Barrancas 2007, Mendoza
Mendoza, Argentina$17.95
The 2007 Finca Flichman Paisaje De Barrancas, aged in French and American oak for 12 months, is a medium bodied, integrated wine, with nice aromas of strawberry, red currant, prune and caraway. It has a somewhat disconnected structure with refined tannins (decant for 30-60 min) and a medium, acidic finish. It would benefit from further aging of at least another 2-3 years. My impression: NICE, 88 pts. Tasted Feb/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
Nieto Senetiner Don Nicanor 2008, Mendoza
Mendoza, Argentina$16.95
The 2008 Nieto Senetiner Don Nicanor is French styled, medium bodied, fruity wine, with nice aromas of yogurty strawberry, raspberry, bilberry and coconut. Tannins are refined (decant for 30 min) and the finish is long, smooth and silky. It is bit young for my liking and has a great potential to evolve, best 2014/15 to 2020. My impression: NICE to BEAUTIFUL, 90 pts - a 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
Santa Carolina Reserva De Familia Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Maipo Valley
Maipo Valley, Chile$17.95
The 2009 Santa Carolina Reserva De Familia Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in French oak for 15 months, is medium bodied, FRUITY to integrated wine, with nice aromas of blackberry, black cherry, oak, coconut and vanilla. Tannins are refined (decant for 15 to 30 min) and the finish is medium to long and silky. It is ready to drink now and will nicely cellar for 5 to 10 years. My impression: NICE to BEAUTIFUL, 90 pts. Tasted Sept/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
Cesca Vicent Lo Piot 2004, Doca Priorat
Priorat, Spain$29.00
The 2004 Cesca Vicent Lo Piot is medium bodied, INTEGRATED to aged wine, with intense aromas of cherry, black currant, chocolate, leather and oak. It is nicely balanced with good acidity, tannins that are refined to tannic (decant carefully due to plenty of tartrate crystals and let open for 30 to 60 min) and a medium to long finish. Drink now, but if aged notes are desired, 2016-20 is not out of reach. My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 90.5 pts – A fine example from Priorat for more than reasonable price, probably due to the aforementioned tartrate crystals, nonetheless recommended wine. 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
Silvio Nardi Brunello Di Montalcino 2005
Tuscany, Italy$41.95
The 2005 Silvio Nardi Brunello Di Montalcino is a medium bodied, integrated wine with nice notes of cherry, dark chocolate and subtle oak. Tannins are refined to tannic (decant for 30 to 60 min) and the finish is medium to long. It is good to drink now and should keep nicely for another 10 years (nice 5 cm cork). My impression: NICE to BEAUTIFUL, 89.5 pts 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
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Ramón Bilbao Tempranillo Gran Reserva 2004, Doca Rioja
Rioja, Spain$27.95
The 2004 Ramon Bilbao Gran Reserva is a medium bodied, integrated wine, with intense aromas of cherry, chocolate, leather, oak, coconut and vanilla. It has a nice structure with good acidity, tannins that are refined to tannic (decant for 30 or more min) and a long finish. It is ready to drink now and will be for the next 5 or more years. My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 91 pts and a recommended buy. 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
3.5 Stars
(0)V