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
Mas Igneus Barranc Dels Closos 2012, Vinyes De Coster, Doca Priorat
Priorat, Spain$18.75
The 2012 Igneus Barranc dels Closos, composed of 60% Garnatxa Negra (Grenache) and 40% Carinyena (Carignan) and aged in oak for 3 months; has enticing bouquet of toast, wood, milky cherry and milky raspberry on the nose and sour cherry, red currant and dominating wood on the palate. It is a medium bodied, extra-dry/dry, fruity to integrated wine; with refreshing acidity, dusty tannins (decant for 60+ min) and a medium to long, silky, finish. This wine is food friendly or a standalone a sipper; good now, best 2018++ to 2025+ evolution potential +2Ep (long cork enclosure). My impression: quite NICE now (expected BEAUTIFUL later), 90+2Ep pts – recommended for its quality and value. Tasted in Mar/15.
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
Château Des Charmes Chardonnay Barrel Fermented 2013, VQA Niagara On The Lake
Ontario, Canada$14.95
The 2013 Château des Charmes Barrel Fermented Chardonnay, aged in French Allier Oak barrels for 9 months together with regularly stirred lees; has creamy, mouthwatering notes of vanilla, toast, oak, pear, gooseberry and subtle lees on the nose and buttery pear, gooseberry and vanilla on the palate. It is a medium bodied, extra-dry, fruity wine; with good acidity and a medium to long, creamy finish (open for 15+ min). This is a food friendly and sipping wine – drink for the next 5+ years (cork enclosure). My impression: quite NICE, 88-89 pts – recommended for both, its quality and especially value. Tasted in Apr/15.
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)G
Konzelmann Gewürztraminer 2011
Ontario, Canada$15.95
The 2011 Konzelmann Gewurztraminer, harvested from 30 year-old vines and crafted by Fabian Reis as his first vintage; is an intensely aromatic wine with passion fruit, flowers and honey notes. It is an off-dry, medium bodied, fruity wine, with good acidity and a medium finish. Drink with food or enjoy by itself; drink young for the next 3-5 years. My impression: NICE, 89 pts. Tasted June/13.
See my wine recommendations readily available at the LCBO here:
http://grapeselections.com/grapeselections/lcbo-deals/
or here @
http://www.winealign.com/wino/dantrcka/recommended-wines-you-can-still-buy
3.0 Stars
(0)W
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc 2012, Marlborough, South Island
Marlborough, New Zealand$19.95
The 2012 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, from Marlborough – Wairau/Awatere Valleys, has appealing aromas of leechie and gooseberry. It is a light to medium bodied, dry, fruity wine; with good acidity and a medium finish. My impression: NICE to BEAUTIFUL, 88 pts. Tasted in May/13 at 'Tasted at New Zealand Wine Fair' http://grapeselections.com/new-zealand-wine-fair/.
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
Pérez Cruz Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2011, Maipo Valley
Maipo Valley, Chile$14.95
The 2011 Pérez Cruz Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon has lifted aromas of stems, eucalyptus, blackcurrant and plum on the nose and palate. It is a medium bodied, extra-dry/dry, fruity wine; UN-balanced with forward acidity, grippy tannins (decant for 30+ min) and a medium, bitter finish. Drink this wine with food; drink now – 2016/17 (screw cap enclosure). My impression: NOTHING SPECIAL, 86 pts. Tasted in May/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
3.0 Stars
(0)V
Abad Dom Bueno Mencía 2008, Do Bierzo
Galicia, Spain$16.95
The 2008 Bodegas Del Abad Dom Bueno, composed of 100% Mencía harvested from old vines, is a light to medium bodied, fruity wine with intense aromas of plum/red currant/cherry, some floral notes as well oak and faint vanilla. It has some distinct mineral notes; is bit unbalanced as the fruit and refreshing acidity doesn't match the tannins that are somewhere between refined to tannic (decant for 1-2 hours to allow faint sulphur notes to escape - I agree with Michael Valaitis) and the finish is medium to long. It is food friendly to be enjoyed with carb-dominated dishes; drink now or age short-term till 2014/5. My impression: NICE to BEAUTIFUL (once decanted for 2+ hours), 88-89 pts - wine for light wine lovers. 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
3.0 Stars
(0)V
Vila Regia Reserva 2010, Douro Valley, Portugal
Portugal$11.95
The 2010 Villa Regia has notes of raspberry, oak and lees. It is a medium bodied, extra-dry, fruity wine, with good acidity, refined tannins and a medium finish. Drink with food; now - 2016. My impression: NOTHING SPECIAL, 87 pts. Tasted April/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
(0)G
Bozeto De Exopto Garnacha/Tempranillo/Graciano 2010, Doca Rioja
Rioja, Spain$14.95
The 2010 Bozeto De Exopto Garnacha-Tempranillo-Graciano, composed in 50%, 40% and 10% ratios, respectively and was aged in oak for 9 months. It is a medium bodied, fruity wine, with intense aromas of red currant, cranberry and abundant liquorice. It has a good, forward acidity, refined tannins (decant for 15 min) and a medium finish. It has very food friendly acidity (avoid sweet dishes); drink now. My impression: NOTHING SPECIAL, 86 pts - not a traditional Rioja, I perceived it to be manufactured rather than crafted. Tasted Jan/13.
http://grapeselections.com/grapeselections
or here @
http://www.winealign.com/wino/dantrcka/recommended-wines-you-can-still-buy
3.0 Stars
(0)V
Bouvet Excellence Brut Crémant De Loire, Traditional Method, Ac, Loire, France
Loire, France$14.75
The Bouvet Brut Excellence Crémant de Loire has restricted nose, but makes up for it on the palate, with fine effervescence that fills the mouth with yellow apple and gooseberry notes followed by fine nutty undertone finish. It is a medium bodied, dry, fruity wine; with good acidity and medium finish. It is a food friendly as well as a sipping wine; drink now and for the next few years (cork enclosure). My impression: quite NICE, 89 pts – recommended for its quality and value. Tasted in Dec/15.
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
Masi Tupungato Passo Doble Malbec Corvina 2011
Argentina$14.95
The 2011 Passo Doble Malbec Corvina has a full bouquet of pine, yeast and pomegranate on the nose and earth and pomegranate on the palate. Slight sulphur notes were also noted. It is a medium bodied, extra-dry, fruity wine with forward acidity, subtle to refined tannins (decant for 30 min) and a finish of medium length. It is a food friendly wine; drink now and for the next 1-2 years. My impression for this Corvina dominated wine: NOTHING SPECIAL, 86-87 pts. Tasted June/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
(0)G