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
Marchesi Di Barolo Barbaresco 2008, Docg
Piedmont, Italy$29.95
The 2008 Marchesi Di Barolo Barbaresco is a medium bodied, fruity to integrated wine, with appealing notes of strawberry, raspberry, cut hay and coconut. It has a good balance, nice acidity, refined tannins and a medium to long finish. Drink with food or by itself, now-2020. My impression: NICE to BEAUTIFUL, 89-90 pts. Tasted Nov/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)V
Camelback Shiraz 2008, Sunbury
Victoria, Australia$24.95
The 2008 Camelback Shiraz, aged in French Oak for 14 months, has intense aromas of cranberry, pomegranate, raspberry, lees and oak. It is a medium bodied, extra-dry, integrated wine; acidic with refined tannins and a medium, somewhat reduced finish. My impression: NOTHING SPECIAL, 87 pts – there is a possibility that this was not a good bottle. 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
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Rutherglen Petite Sirah 2008, Rutherglen, Victoria
Victoria, Australia$21.95
The 2008 Rutherglen Petit Sirah, aged in French oak for 12 months, is medium bodied and with intense aromas of fruity to integrated raspberry, red currant, bilberry and pine/oak. It has a good balance, refined tannins (decant for 30-60 min) and a long finish. Drink now or age till 2020 standing up (screw cap). My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 90 pts and a recommended buy - this wine is great for sipping. Tasted July/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
3.5 Stars
(0)V
La Velona Rosso Di Montalcino 2009
Tuscany, Italy$17.95
The 2009 La Velona Rosso Di Montalcino is a medium bodied, integrated wine, with intense notes of pine, oak, liquorice and vanilla on the nose and raspberry, cherry and vanilla on the palate. It has tannins that are refined to tannic (decant for 30+ minutes) and a long and slightly sweet (though extra dry) finish. Drink now or cellar for another 5+ years. Drink-how: this wine does well with food as well as a standalone sipper. My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 90-91 pts - a recommended buy - don't miss out on this one. 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
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Tawse Growers Blend Pinot Noir 2010, VQA Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$24.95
The 2010 Tawse Grower’s Blend Pinot Noir has intense, lifted aromas of prune, pomegranate and vanilla. It is a medium bodied, extra-dry, fruity wine, with good acidity, refined tannins and a medium to long finish. It is food friendly, but enjoy it on its own; drink now – 2018+. My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 91 pts – recommended buy for its quality and value. 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
Bodegas Castaño Hécula Monastrell 2009, Do Yecla
Spain$12.60
The 2009 Bodegas Castaño Hécula Monastrell, aged in oak for 6 months, is a medium bodied, fruity wine, with intense aromas of fresh dates, cranberry and oak. It has a nice food friendly acidity, refined tannins (decant for 15 min) and a medium to long finish. It is good to drink now or can be cellared for the next 5 years - it has en evolution potential of +1 pt; as aforementioned, this is a food friendly wine. My impression: NICE, 89 pts - used to cost $15, for this price buy-by-a-case before they are all gone. Tasted Dec/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
Château Des Charmes Vidal Icewine 2009, VQA Niagara On The Lake, Niagara Peninsula (200ml)
Ontario, Canada$25.95
The 2009 Château Des Charmes Vidal Icewine 2009 is full of tangerine, apricot and light peach aromas. It is a full bodied, sweet, fruity wine, with good acidity, and a medium to long lightly syrupy finish. Enjoy on its own or drink with creamy or hard cheeses; drink now – 2018+. My impression: NICE, 89 pts. Tasted 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)G
D'angelo Aglianico Del Vulture 2009, Doc Basilicata
Italy$17.95
The 2009 D'angelo Aglianico Del Vulture is a medium bodied, integrated wine, with appealing aromas of vanilla, anise, pomegranate on the nose and strawberry and vanilla on the palate. It is tannic (decant for 30-60 min) and has a medium to long finish. This wine will benefit from cellaring - drink 2014-2022, it is food friendly (salty meaty foods) and a sipper (for tannin lovers). My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 89-90 pts - recommended buy just to try what the Aglianico grape has to offer. Tasted Oct/12.
See my wine recommendations readily available at the LCBO here:
http://grapeselections.com
or here @
http://www.winealign.com/wino/dantrcka/recommended-wines-you-can-still-buy
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Ruffino Modus 2008, Igt Toscana
Tuscany, Italy$29.95
The 2008 Ruffino Modus, composed of 50% Sangiovese, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Merlot aged in French Oak for 12 months; is a medium bodied, fruity to integrated wine, with intense aromas of black cherry, violets and faint vanilla. It has a focused balance, nice/food friendly acidity, refined tannins ( decant for 30 min) and a long finish. It is food friendly as well as a sipping wine and it has aging potential and a potential to increase its score to 93; drink now to 2022. My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 91 pts - recommended buy - great Supertuscan example that is both, food friendly and a sipper. Tasted July/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
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Fielding Estate Bottled Riesling 2011, VQA Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$18.95
The 2011 Fielding Estate Bottled Riesling is a medium bodied, fruity wine with appealing aromas of green apple and washed stone minerality. Thought it is high in residual sugar, due to its crisp acidity it doesn’t taste sweet; the finish is medium. My impression: NICE, 89 pts. Tasted Jan/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