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
Cantina Terre Del Barolo Dogliani 2007, Docg
Piedmont, Italy$13.95
This light bodied Dolcetto has aromas of blackberry, black cherry and quite a bit Earthy. It is quite tannic and acidic (should be decanted for 2 hours). The finish is medium. My impression: DRINKABLE BUT WHY. Tasted Jan/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
3.0 Stars
(0)V
Beringer Clear Lake Zinfandel 2006, Clear Lake, Lake County
California, Usa$19.95
The 2006 Beringer Clear Lake Zinfandel is medium bodied, with fruity to INTEGRATED, intensely aromatic bilberry, black cherry, cedar, coconut and vanilla notes. Tannins are subtle (decant for 15 to 30 min) and the finish is long. This wine should be able to evolve nicely for the next 10 years. My impression: NICE, 90 pts - great wine and a definitely recommended wine, non-sweet Zin example, but I think that it could be $2-3 cheaper. Tasted Mar/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
3.0 Stars
(0)V
Beronia Reserva 2005, Doca Rioja
Spain$18.95
This wine won a Gold Medal at the 2009 Japan Wine Challenge. I consider Beronia Reserva 2005 to be my best buy of 2009. This smooth, silky, full bodied wine is quite aromatic with notes of black currant, black cherry, oak and vanilla. The fruit is integrated – not too fruity and yet not dissipated due to aging. The tannins are refined and the finish is nice and long. It is at its best now and will remain for another 5 years before becoming more aged, even then I expect it to be delicious. I am glad I can watch this wine evolve for the next 10 years as my impression is DIVINE. Tasted several times Oct-Dec 2009.
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
3.0 Stars
(0)V
Casillero Del Diablo Carmenere 2008
Chile$14.00
This Carmenere is medium bodied with fruity notes of black cherry, prune, green pepper and smoke. It has a subtle tannins (decant for 15 to 30 min) and a medium finish. My impression: NOTHING SPECIAL. Tasted Apr/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
3.0 Stars
(0)G
Castaño La Casona Monastrell 2007, Yecla
Spain$8.99
This medium bodied Monastrell has fruity notes of strawberry, red currant and prune. Tannins are subtle to refined (decant for 15 to 30 min) and the finish is medium and bretty. My impression: NOTHING SPECIAL, 86 pts. Tasted in Sept/10 during Spanish wine tasting - not popular despite its price.
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
3.0 Stars
(0)
Château Des Charmes Brut Sparkling, Traditional Method, VQA Niagara On The Lake, Ontario
Ontario, Canada$25.95
The 2009 Château Des Charmes Brut Methode Traditionelle (year is not displayed on the bottle) is composed of equal amounts of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir that was aged on lees for over 3 years using the traditional method. It has captivating aromas of lime, minerality and subtle lees on the nose and gooseberry and subtle raspberry on the palate. It is a medium bodied, lightly sweet, fruity wine; BALANCED with refreshing acidity, fine effervescence and a medium to long finish. Enjoy this wine on-its-own; dink now-2018+. My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 90 pts – recommended for its quality and value – excellent choice for the upcoming festivities. Tasted Nov/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
3.0 Stars
(1000+)E
Canepa Reserva Privada Carmenère 2008, Rapel Valley
Chile$14.95
This fruity, full to thick bodied wine has aromas of black currant, prune, black cherry, liquorice and oak, which I consider too thick for my liking. It is slightly tannic (needs 30 min to open) and should benefit from further aging. The finish is medium and my impression is: DRINKABLE BUT WHY. 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
3.0 Stars
(0)V
Quinta Do Roncão Reserva 2006, Doc Douro
Portugal$14.95
This medium bodied, fruity to integrated wine consists of prune and to lesser extent strawberry, raspberry and earthy notes. There are aromas of oak and vanilla, and the wine is smooth and silky. It has an aging potential of no more than 5 years, has some tannins (needs to open between half to an hour) with medium, slightly metallic finish. My impression: NICE. Tasted Feb/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
3.0 Stars
(0)V
Terre Del Barolo Valdisera Barbera D'alba 2007, Doc
Piedmont, Italy$16.95
This medium bodied Barbera wine has fruity to integrated aromas of raspberry and cherry. Tannins are subtle and the finish is medium. This was my first exposure to the Barbera grape and I must say it was a pleasant one. I tried it alongside ASCHERI FONTANELLE BARBERA D'ALBA 2008 (982462), which I like better. My impression: NICE. Tasted Mar/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
3.0 Stars
(0)V
Montecillo Crianza 2006, Rioja
Spain$15.10
This integrated, medium to full bodied wine Rioja has aromas of cherry, oak and vanilla. It has refined tannins and a medium to long finish. It is good to drink now or can improve with 3-5 years in the cellar. My impression: BEAUTIFUL. Tasted Jan/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
3.0 Stars
(0)G