Dan Trcka
|
Followers (47)
|
|
|
Following (5)
|
Reviews (1016)
|
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
The Oak Valley Blend 2005, Wo Elgin
South Africa$16.95
The 2005 The Oak Valley Blend is medium bodied, with fruity to integrated notes of red and black currants and overpowering coconut. The tannins are subtle to refined (decant for 30 to 60 min) and the finish is medium, yet smooth. The wine is a bit too acidic, without much support from tannins. It can age for up to 5 years, but no longer (despite an impressive 5 cm cork). My impression: NOTHING SPECIAL to NICE, 87.5 pts. Tasted Apr/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
Palatine Hills Proprietors Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, VQA Niagara Lakeshore
Ontario, Canada$14.95
The 2007 Palatine Hills Proprietors Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon was originally released on April 16th, 2011 for $19.95, then re-released on October 15th, 2011 for $5 less (coincidence??). It is a medium bodied, integrated wine, with intense aromas of black currant and overpowering vanilla and coconut on the nose and cherry and almond on the palate. The wine is disjoint on couple of fronts: the beautiful nose is not supported by body that lacks fruit; as well as the structure is composed of subtle to refined tannins unable to support either the body or the higher acidity. Decant for 1 to 2 hours as you may want the nose to diminish a bit to match the body - however the abundant vanilla does allow for an extra long finish. Not sure what to say about aging or about my impression, other than it reminds me of my youthful days of experimenting, when I added vanilla bean into a bland wine achieving the same results. Given other review's, I will try another bottle just to make sure. My review - nose 90 pts, palate - 85 pts, average, 87 pts. None the less, worth a try. 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
3.0 Stars
(0)V
Red Knot Mclaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Mclaren Vale
Australia$18.05
The 2009 Red Knot Mclaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon has medium body, it is un-aromatic with fruity notes of strawberry on the palate. Tannins are subtle to refined (decant for 15 min) and the finish is medium. The enclosure is plastic setting the aging potential to only 1 to 2 years. My impression: NOTHING SPECIAL, 85 pts - quite an expensive buy for the steep $18. Tasted Apr/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)G
Pléyades Reserva 2005, Do Cariñena
Spain$12.95
The 2005 Pléyades Reserva is medium bodied, integrated wine, with notes of prune, leather and oak. It is bit too acidic, tannins are refined (decant for 15 to 30 min) and the finish is medium. My impression: NOTHING SPECIAL, 87 pts - not recommended, despite the price. Tasted July/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/recomended-wines-you-can-still-buy
3.0 Stars
(0)V
Redemption Zin Zinfandel 2007, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
California, Usa$22.95
The 2007 Alexander Valley Redemption Zinfandel is full bodied, integrated wine with intense aromas of cherry, coffee bean, oak, vanilla and coconut. It has a nice structure with firm acidity and refined tannins (decant for 15-30 min). Though the wine is bit too extracted and with 15.7% alcohol, the finish is long and quite balanced. Drink now or for the next 10 years. My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 91 pts - a recommended buy. This wine is a better sipper rather than food friendly, unless it is served with sweets. Tasted July/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/recomended-wines-you-can-still-buy
3.0 Stars
(0)V
Casa Lapostolle Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Rapel Valley
Chile$16.00
The 2009 Casa Lapostolle Cabernet Sauvignon is a medium bodied, integrated wine, with intense aromas of blackberry, smoke and eucalyptus. It is on the acidic side, is tannic (decant for 30 min) and has a finish of medium length. It is a food friendly wine that can be enjoyed now and for the next 3-5 years. My impression: NICE, 88-89 pts - on sale now for $14.45 till November 11th. 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
3.0 Stars
Tenuta Rocca Barolo 2005, Docg
Piedmont, Italy$39.95
The 2005 Tenuta Rocca Barolo is medium bodied, integrated wine with intense aromas of vanilla, liquorice on the nose and red currant, cherry and coconut on the palate. Tannins are refined to tannic (decant for 30 to 60 min) and the finish is long. Drink now or hold for 5 to 10 years (cork is quite short for a Barolo). My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 90 pts - Barolo that is unusually full of coconut; bit too pricey for what you get. 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
3.0 Stars
(0)V
Schloss Reinhartshausen Hattenheimer Wisselbrunnen Riesling Kabinett 2009, Deutscher Prädikatswein
Rheingau, Germany$17.95
The 2009 Schloss Reinhartshausen Hattenheimer Wisselbrunnen Riesling Kabinett has impressive, yet unusual aromas of coconut, butter, vanilla and pear on the nose and pear, gooseberry, coconut and butter on the palate. It is a medium to full bodied, sweet, integrated wine; with good acidity and a long and creamy finish. This is an unusual wine that seems to have been aged in oak for some time – definitely drink on-its-own; drink now and for the next 5 years at least (long cork enclosure). My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 91-92 pts – recommended for its quality and value. Tasted in Jan/00.
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
(0)V
Spice Route Sauvignon Blanc 2010, Wo Darling
Swartland, South Africa$15.95
The 2010 Spice Route Sauvignon Blanc is a medium bodied wine with intense aromas of quince, pear and slight green foliage. It has refreshing acidity and a mineral finish. My impression: NICE to BEAUTIFUL, 89 pts - recommended buy (not many left). 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
3.0 Stars
(0)V
Santa Carolina Merlot Reserva 2010
Chile$12.95
The 2010 Santa Carolina Merlot Reserva, aged in French oak for 9 months, is a light to medium bodied, fruity wine with notes of blackberry, prune and smoke. It has subtle to refined tannins (decant for 15 min) and a medium finish. Drink now and for the next 2 years. My impression: NOTHING SPECIAL to NICE, 87 pts - great value for $12. 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.
3.0 Stars
(0)G