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
Livio Sassetti Pertimali Brunello Di Montalcino 2007
Tuscany, Italy$45.95
The 2007 Livio Sassetti Pertimali Brunello di Montalcino, aged in oak for 3 years, has captivating bouquet of toast, subtle leather, vanilla, oak, spice and cherry on the nose and cherry and pine on the palate. It is a medium bodied, extra-dry, integrated wine; BALANCED with good acidity, refined tannins (decant for 30 min) and an extra-long, smooth finish. Enjoy this beauty on its own; drink now till 2022+ (cork enclosure). My impression: BEAUTIFUL to DIVINE, 93 pts – recommended for its quality. Tasted in Nov/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
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Finca Constancia Altos De La Finca 2011, Vino De La Tierra De Castilla
Spain$21.95
The 2011 Finca Constancia Altos de la Finca, composed of 60% Petit Verdot and 40% Syrah that was aged for 18 months in new French Oak barrels, has expressive and seductive aromas of forest needles, toast, oak, vanilla, graphite and black cherry on the nose and inky black cherry, plum, cranberry, oak and light lees on the palate. It is a medium bodied, extra-dry, integrated wine; still UNBALANCED with edgy/tart acidity, dusty tannins (decant for 30 min) and a medium to long, silky finish. Currently, this wine should be enjoyed with food, but in couple of years it should evolve into a beautiful sipper once the acidity further integrates (Evolution potential +1 to 3 pts) – drink 2016/17-2025 (long cork enclosure). My impression: NICE now, but will be BEAUTIFUL down the road, 90 (+1-3 Ep) pts – recommended especially for its quality (if you can cellar it), but value as well. 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
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Corte Pavone Brunello Di Montalcino 2008
Tuscany, Italy$57.95
The 2008 Loacker Corte Pavone Brunello Di Montalcino, also aged in oak for 48 months, has appealing aromas of dried cherry, lees, wood and clove that are little light on the nose, but the palate full of cranberry, pomegranate, dried cherry notes make up for it. It is light to medium bodied, extra-dry, integrated wine; BALANCED with good acidity, refined tannins and a smooth and silky finish of great length. Drink now – 2020+. My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 92-93 pts – recommended for its quality and value. Tasted in Mar/14 at 'Benvenuto Brunello' http://grapeselections.com/benvenuto-brunello/.
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
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Font De Michelle Châteauneuf Du Pape 2012, Ap
Rhône, France$53.95
The 2012 Font de Michelle Châteauneuf-du-Pape has intense aromas of milky blackberry, black cherry, figs, prune and milky chocolate on the nose and milky blackberry, oak, coconut and vanilla on the palate. It is a medium to full bodied, extra-dry, fruity to integrated wine; with forward acidity, grippy tannins (decant for 30-60 min) and a long, smooth finish. Though food friendly, sip this wine by-itself; drink now to 2025+ (long cork enclosure). My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 91 pts – recommended for its quality. 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
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Taylor Fladgate 10 Year Old Tawny Port, Douro Valley
Douro, Portugal$36.95
The Taylor Fladgate 10 Year Old Tawny Port has intense aromas of stewed prune, plum and roasted walnuts. It is a full bodied, sweet, integrated to aged port; with good acidity, and a medium to long finish. Drink as a desert; drink now – 2020. My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 92 pts – recommended for its quality and value. Tasted in September 2013 at iYellow's Taylor Fladgate Port Party http://grapeselections.com/port-and-werewolves/
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
4.0 Stars
(1000+)E
Wolf Blass Grey Label Shiraz 2005, Mclaren Vale, South Australia
Australia$35.00
The Grey Label Shiraz 2007 from McLaren Vale was also full bodied with fruity to integrated aromas of cherry, black cherry, pine and liquorice. The tannins were dusty and refined (decant for 30 min to 1 hr) and the finish was long. It should evolve nicely for the next 5 years at least. My impression: NICE to BEAUTIFUL, 91 pts. Tasted June23/10 at Wine Align Wolf Blass Premium Wine Tasting event.
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
4.0 Stars
(0)G
Wolf Blass Grey Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Langhorne Creek, South Australia
Australia$27.20
The Grey Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 from Langhorne Creek was much more pleasant in comparison to the Cab from Coonawarra region. The wine was medium to full bodied with nicely fragrant, fruity to integrated aromas of violets, cedar, chocolate and black berry. The tannins were refined and dusty (decant for 30 to 60 min) and the finish was medium to long. It should evolve nicely for more than 5 years, but is definitely ready to drink now. My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 91 pts. Tasted June23/10 at Wine Align Wolf Blass Premium Wine Tasting event.
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
4.0 Stars
(0)A
Fortius Gran Reserva 1999, Do Navarra
Spain$23.95
This is almost the best aged Spanish wine I have ever tasted (the best one is twice the price). The fruit is quite aged, so I cannot discern which berries contribute to the divine taste, but their flavour did not by any means dissipate. There are notes of cedar, oak, vanilla, musk and earth. The wine is aromatic, smooth and silky. It is great now and I hope can still last for another 5 years at least, as I have pretty much bought out the LCBO. Tannins are refined so decanting for 30 minutes is sufficient, body is light to medium and the finish is long to extra long. My impression is: DIVINE. Reviewed 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
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Masi Costasera Amarone 2006, Veneto
Veneto, Italy$41.95
This lightly aromatic, medium bodied Amarone has fruity to integrated notes of cherry, black currant, chocolate and green pepper. The tannins are subtle (decant for 30 min) and the finish is medium. It should be at it’s best sometime in 2011-2013. My impression: NICE. However, I would not buy it again as I consider the price to be too high. I have tried some Ripassos that performed better for under $20. 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
4.0 Stars
(0)G
Penfolds Bin 128 Shiraz 2006, Coonawarra, South Australia
Australia$27.75
This medium bodied Shiraz has aromas of black currant, black cherry, blackberry and cedar. It is smooth, with refined tannins and medium finish. It has the potential to evolve in the next few years to a decade, but can be drunk now. My impression: NICE to 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
4.0 Stars
(0)V