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
Del Jalón Altos Las Pizarras 2005, Do Calatayud
Spain$22.95
I don't have complete tasting notes for the 2005 Del Jalón Altos Las Pizarras 2005. I found this wine to be quite acidic, having a light body and soft to refined tannins. It had to be decanted for nearly 2 hours for some complexity to appear. I do think that aging it for 2 or more years will refine this wine, but at the same time, the already light body will further diminish. My impression: NOTHING SPECIAL to NICE (after 2 hours of decanting), somewhere in the 87-88 pts range - not a recommended buy. Tasted Nov/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
Campo Viejo Crianza 2007, Rioja
Spain$14.55
The 2007 Campo Viejo Crianza is medium bodied, with nice aromas of integrated cherry, leather, cedar and coconut. Tannins are refined (really needs to be decanted for 1 to 2 hours for it to fully open) and the finish is smooth and medium to long. It has the potential to age for another 5 years. My impression: NICE, 90 pts - recommended buy especially at this price tag (on sale now till March 27th 2011. 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/recommended-wines-you-can-still-buy
3.0 Stars
(0)G
Graffigna Centenario Shiraz Reserve 2008
Argentina$13.95
The 2008 Graffigna Centenario Shiraz Reserve is full bodied, with nice, fruity aromas of blackberry, prune and oak. Tannins are tannic and quite forward (decant for 15 min) and the finish is medium and chalky. It could have the potential to evolve if not being sealed by a screw cap. My impression: NICE, 88 pts - on sale till March 27/11. 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/recommended-wines-you-can-still-buy
3.0 Stars
(0)G
Sterling Vineyards Merlot 2008, Napa Valley
California, Usa$24.95
The 2008 Sterling Vineyards Merlot is a medium bodied, FRUITY to integrated wine, with nice aromas of blackberry, black cherry, smoke and wood. It has a nice acidity, tannins that are refined to tannic (decant for 15 to 30 min) and a long finish. It will be at its best from 2013/14-2018. My impression: NICE to BEAUTIFUL, 89.5 pts. Tasted Dec/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
Tabalí Reserva Carmenère 2008, Limarí Valley
Chile$14.95
The 2008 Tabalí Reserva Carmenère is a medium bodied, fruity to integrated wine, with intense aromas of blackberry, green pepper, cut hay and vanilla/coconut. Tannins are refined (decant for 30 to 60 min) and the finish is medium to long. It could still be aged for another 2 years before it hits its peak and will last to 2018 and beyond. My impression: NICE, 89 pts - pleasant Carmenere for a good price and hence a recommended buy. Tasted March/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
Messias Grande Escolha 2007, Doc Douro
Portugal$14.10
The 2007 Messias Grande Escolha is medium bodied, nicely aromatic, integrated wine. The nose reveals raspberry, prune and oak, whereas the palate reveals more of raspberry and prune. Tannins are refined (decant for 30 to 60 min) and the finish is medium. It is good to drink now or hold for 5 years. My impression: NICE, 88 pts - good value for $14. Tasted June/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
Château Des Charmes Gamay Noir 2008, VQA Niagara The Lake
Ontario, Canada$13.95
The 2008 Chateau Des Charmes Gamay Noir is a light to medium bodied, fruity wine, with notes of raspberry, prune, cedar and rosehip. Tannins are subtle to refined (decant for 15 min) and the finish is bit sweet of medium length. Ready to drink now or can be cellared for the next five years, even though these wines are meant to be drunk young. My impression: NOTHING SPECIAL, 87 pts - correctly priced wine. Tasted Apr/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)G
Fairview Pinotage 2009, Wo Coastal Region
South Africa$14.95
The 2009 Fairview Pinotage is a medium to full bodied, FRUITY to integrated wine, with intense aromas of black currant, fresh coffee fruit, toasted oak and faint coconut and vanilla. It has a nice structure with refined tannins (decant for 1 to 2 hours for the wine to excel) and a nice long finish. My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 90 pts - would be a recommended wine if it was still widely available. 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
Bodegas Lan Crianza 2006, Doca Rioja
Spain$15.95
The 2006 Bodegas Lan Crianza is medium bodied, with integrated, nicely aromatic notes of cherry, red currant, cedar and faint leather. Tannins are refined (decant for 15 to 30 min), has a lively acidity and the finish is medium. It is ready to drink now or cellar for up to 5 years. My impression: NICE, 88.5 pts and a recommended wine. Tasted May/11 in Spain, where it retails for about €7 in stores and €18.5 at a restaurant.
3.0 Stars
(0)V
Fattoria La Ripa Chianti Classico 2008, Docg
Tuscany, Italy$19.95
The 2008 Fattoria La Ripa Chianti Classico, which I accidentally picked up due to LCBO's inventory mistake as I was going after the 2006 Fattoria La Ripa Riserva Chianti Classico, is a medium bodied wine with nice notes of integrated cherry, cedar and thyme as well as some faint, unpleasant, funky note (bad bottle??). Tannins are refined to tannic (decant for 30 to 60 min) and the finish is medium. Drink now and for the next 5 years. My impression: NICE, 88 pts - not nearly as enjoyable as its older sibling mentioned above. 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