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
Terra D'aligi Tatone Montepulciano D'abruzzo 2011, Doc
Abruzzo, Italy$15.95
The 2011 Terra d'Aligi Tatone Montepulciano d'Abruzzo has pleasing aromas of green pepper, blackberry, plum, vanilla and oak on both the nose and palate. It is a medium bodied, extra-dry, fruity wine; UNBALANCED with tangy/forward acidity, refined tannins (decant for 30 min) and a medium finish. Drink this wine with food; best to drink from 2017-2020 (cork enclosure). My impression: NOTHING SPECIAL, 86-87 pts – was on sale for one week - $3.00 OFF – perhaps still not worth it. Tasted in Jan/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
Henry's Drive H Syrah 2012, Padthaway
South Australia, Australia$21.75
The 2012 Henry’s Drive H Syrah has impressive notes of black currant, blackberry, oak, vanilla and pencil lead on the nose and sour cherry, pomegranate, black cherry and oak on the palate. It is a medium to full bodied, extra-dry/dry, fruity to integrated wine; with fresh acidity, refined tannins and a long and smooth finish. This is a food friendly and sipping wine, drink now to 2020 (screw cap enclosure). My impression: quite NICE, 89+ pts – recommended for its quality (would fare better, too bad it is not extra-dry). Tasted in Feb/15 at 'Shiraz Week at iYellow Wine Cave' http://grapeselections.com/grapeselections/wine-reviews/.
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 Cuvée D'andrée Rosé 2014, Niagara On The Lake
Ontario, Canada$15.30
The 2014 Château des Charmes Cuvée d'Andrée Rosé has pleasant aromas of grapefruit, lemon, melon peel and lees together with subtle strawberry and raspberry on the nose; the palate is dominated by raspberry, cranberry and lemon. It is a light bodied, extra-dry/dry, young/fruity wine; with refreshing acidity and a clean finish (open for 30+ min). Enjoy this wine with food at slightly warmer temperatures (~10°C); as it has been recently bottled, it will benefit from short term hold – drink for the next couple of years (screw cap enclosure). My impression: NICE, 87-88 pts. 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
Bonterra Chardonnay 2013, Mendocino County
California, Usa$19.95
The 2013 Bonterra Chardonnay, sourced from Mendocino county and composed of 89% Chardonnay, 6-7% Viognier and Muscat and aged for 8 months in both French and American Oaks; has inviting aromas of toast, butter, vanilla, pecan and quince on the nose and gooseberry, pineapple and wood on the palate. It is a medium bodied, extra-dry, fruity wine; with crisp acidity and a long finish. It is a food friendly and sipping wine; drink now and for the next 5-10 years (screw cap enclosure). My impression: NICE to BEAUTIFUL, 88-89 pts – recommended for its quality. Tasted in Apr/15 at 'Bonterra tasting at iYellow Wine Cave' http://grapeselections.com/grapeselections/wine-reviews/.
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
De Neuville Bertinière Chinon 2013
Loire, France$12.75
The 2013 De Neuville Bertinière Chinon, composed of Cabernet Franc, has slightly green, leafy notes, accompanied on the nose by dates and figs and followed by plums and dates on the palate. It is a light to medium bodied, dry, fruity wine; with good acidity, subtle tannins (decant for 15 min) and medium finish. Drink with food; hold short term (cork enclosure). Rated 86 pts. 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
Tsantali Rapsani Reserve 2004, Ao
Greece$18.95
This light to medium bodied, integrated wine is quite sweet despite being extra dry. It shows aromas of raspberry, oak, leather and to a lesser extent, prune, violets and chocolate. The tannins are refined (wine needs at least 30 min to open) and the finish is long. This is a great wine when it comes to complexity, but it is not my style hence my impression is just NICE, but is rated quite high. 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
Castiglioni Cabernet Sauvignon/Sangiovese 2006, Igt Toscana
Tuscany, Italy$21.95
I have tried the 2006 (released Aug15/09, 974394) alongside the 2007 (released Nov21/09, 145920). This medium to full bodied wine has sweet aromas of black currant, black cherry, coconut, oak and vanilla. It is slightly acidic, tannins are refined (needs to open 30 min to 1 hr) and the finish is nice and long. I have a feeling that this wine needs to mature just a little more. Even though it is good to drink now, it will benefit from sitting in the cellar for couple of years and should be good for 5 to 10 years. Since I had both vintages side by side, the 2006 is not as good as 2007; it is slightly more fruity and sweet. My impression: Beautiful. 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
Cline Zinfandel 2007, California
California, Usa$16.30
I am not a fan of Zinfandels, but this wine is surprisingly good. Medium bodied and fruity with notes of strawberry and vanilla. As expected, it was quite sweet. There were really no detectable tannins (but I had it open for an hour before I tried it) and the finish was medium. Impression: NICE. 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
Sterling Vintner's Collection Merlot 2005, Central Coast, California
California, Usa$16.00
Currently LCBO carries the 2006 vintage, which is what I am reviewing. This smooth, medium to full bodied wine has strong aromas of strawberry and subtle notes of oak and vanilla. It is fruity to integrated, with tannins somewhere between refined to tannic and a medium finish. If opened for long, the oak and vanilla notes disappear. My impression: NICE, especially at $12.95. Tasted few times, reviewed Jan06/10.
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
Santa Rita Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2007, Maipo Valley
Chile$13.95
This medium to full bodied, fruity wine contains aromas of strawberry, coconut, vanilla, Earth and on the lighter side of blueberry, rose, liquorice and musk. It is smooth, silky and chalky. Tannins are refined (wine was good to drink in 15 min) and the finish was medium. Impression: NICE to 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