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
Finca Nueva Reserva 2004, Doca Rioja
Rioja, Spain$18.95
The 2004 Finca Nueva Reserva is a medium bodied, integrated wine, with appealing aromas of red currant, cherry, prune, leather and sandalwood. Tannins are refined (decant for 30 min) and the finish is long and smooth. Though ready to drink, this wine was made with ageability in mind and should evolve gracefully for another 5-10 years. My impression: NICE to BEAUTIFUL, 90 pts - recommended buy. 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
Laborum Syrah 2005, Cafayate, Salta
Salta, Argentina$21.95
The 2005 Laborum Syrah, aged in oak for 12 months, is a medium to full bodied, FRUITY to integrated wine, with intense aromas of ripe coffee and cedar on the nose and blackberry and black cherry on the palate. It has a nice structure with refined tannins (decant for 15-30 min) and a long finish, though a bit alcoholic. Drink now-2018. My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 91.5 pts - highly recommended wine. 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
Perrin & Fils Les Christins Vacqueyras 2009, Ac
Rhône, France$23.95
The 2009 Perrin & Fils Les Christins Vacqueyras is a medium bodied, fruity wine, with pleasant aromas of strawberry, raspberry and red currant. It has a nice structure, with refined tannins (decant for 30 to 60 min) and a medium to long, yet hot finish. It is ready to drink now, but will still benefit from cellaring for the next 5 or so years. My impression: NICE, 89 pts - though pleasant, it is a bit costly. 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
Errazuriz Single Vineyard Carmenère 2009, Max Reserva Estates, Aconcagua Valley
Aconcagua Valley, Chile$18.95
Dan Trcka
The Errazuriz Single Vineyard Carmenère from the Max Reserva Estates was aged in French and American oak for 12 months. It is a medium to full bodied, integrated wine, with appealing aromas of jammy blackberry, pencil lead, oak, some greenage and dominating sandalwood. Tannins are refined (decant for 15-30 min) and the finish is long and smooth. Drink now or cellar for the next 5-10 years. My impression: NICE to BEAUTIFUL, 89 pts. Tasted Mar/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
Spice Route Shiraz 2009, Wo Swartland
Swartland, South Africa$24.95
The 2009 Spice Route Shiraz, aged in French oak for 18 months, is a full bodied, integrated wine, with intense aromas of prune, strawberry, smoke, coconut and vanilla. It has a nice structure with refined tannins (decant for 15-30 min) and a long to extra long, chalky finish. Though ready to drink now, it should age gracefully for the next 10 years. My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 91 pts - I recommend giving this one a try just to gage how many to stock up on (scheduled to come out sometime in March/12). Tasted at "An Intimate Wine Tasting with Charles Back" Jan/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)V
Bodega Del Abad Dom Bueno Crianza 2001, Do Bierzo
Galicia, Spain$14.95
The 2001 Bodega Del Abad Dom Bueno Crianza is a light bodied, aged wine, with intense aromas of red currant, cherry, caramel and leather. It has a nice structure with good acidity, refined tannins (decant for 30 min) and a medium to long finish. At its peak now, but should still hold well for another 5 years (5 cm cork). My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 90.5 pts - great value and hence a recommended buy - get a case! 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
Vega Sauco Adoremus Tinta De Toro 2004, Do Toro
Castilla y León, Spain$19.95
The 2004 Vega Sauco Adoremus Tinta De Toro, aged in French and American oak for 24 months, is a medium to full bodied, integrated to aged wine, with intense aromas of black cherry, dark chocolate, overpowering vanilla-coconut-oak, liquorice and leather, and is starting to develop some funky notes. Tannins are refined to tannic (decant for 30 min) and the finish is long. It is ready to drink now and should hold for another 5 or so years. My impression: very NICE, 91 pts – though a bit over extracted. 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
Hidden Bench Estate Pinot Noir 2009, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$38.20
The 2010 Hidden Bench Estate Pinot Noir has intense aromas of rosehip, pomegranate and smoked meat. It is a light bodied, extra-dry, fruity to integrated wine, with forward acidity, subtle tannins and a medium finish. It is food friendly; drink now – 2016+. My impression: NICE, 89 pts. Tasted at 'Taste Ontario 2013' http://grapeselections.com/taste-ontario-2013/ in October/13.
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
Gérard Bertrand Terroir Minervois Syrah/Carignan 2009, Ac
Languedoc, France$17.95
The 2009 Gérard Bertrand Minervois Syrah/Grenache, is a medium bodied, fruity wine, with appealing aromas of raspberry, plum, oak, faint vanilla and liquorice. Tannins are chalky and refined to tannic (decant for 30 to 60 min) and the finish is medium to long and slightly alcoholic. Though enjoyable now, drink 2014-2018. My impression: NICE, 89 pts. Tasted Apr/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
Grant Burge Summers Chardonnay 2010, Adelaide Hills/Eden Valley, South Australia
Australia$19.95
The 2010 Grant Burge Summers Chardonnay is fresh wine with appealing aromas of light citrus, green pear and barely noticeable oak. It was aged in French casks for 12 months, giving it a nice structure with refreshing acidity, subtle tannins and a clean, mineral finish of medium length. It is ready to drink while young and will also benefit from cellaring for few years. It can stand alone as a sipping wine as well as is food friendly - try with grilled calamari. My impression: NICE, 88 pts. 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
3.5 Stars
(0)G