Dan Trcka
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Followers (47)
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Following (5)
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Reviews (1015)
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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
Rosewood Estates Natural Fermentation Reserve Pinot Noir 2009, VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$39.95
The 2009 Rosewood Estates Pinot Noir Reserve, aged in seasoned French Oak barrels for 10 months, is a medium bodied, integrated wine, with bold aromas of raspberry, pomegranate, dark chocolate, oak, clove and smoked meat notes. It has refined tannins (decant for 30+ min) and a medium finish. Enjoy this wine by itself; drink now or for the next 5+ years. My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 91 pts – recommended buy though at $40. Tasted Oct/12.
http://grapeselections.com/grapeselections
or here @
http://www.winealign.com/wino/dantrcka/recommended-wines-you-can-still-buy
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Burrowing Owl Athene 2010, BC VQA Okanagan Valley
British Columbia, Canada$44.95
The 2010 Burrowing Owl Estate Winery Athene is composed of 60% Syrah and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon that were co-fermented (an uncommon practice for fine wines) and then aged in French and American oaks (60/40% - 40% new) for 18 months before bottling. The wine has succulent bouquet composed of black currant, blackberry, blueberry, cedar, leather and toasted vanilla on the nose and figs, black currant, leather, vanilla and oak on the palate. It is a full bodied, extra-dry, integrated wine; BALANCED with fresh acidity, dusty/refined tannins and a long and silky finish. This is a sipper that should be enjoyed uninterrupted; drink now till 2020++ (cork enclosure). My impression: BEAUTIFUL to DIVINE, 92-93 pts – recommended for its quality. Tasted in Nov/14 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
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Château Des Charmes Equuleus Paul Bosc Estate Vineyards 2010, Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$30.00
The 2010 Château des Charmes Equuleus, composed of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc and 25% Merlot that was aged in French Oak for one year, is a medium bodied, fruity to integrated wine, with intense notes of raspberry, cherry, dates and vanilla. It has a good structure, refined tannins (decant for 30-60 min) and a fruit forward, long finish. Enjoy by itself; drink now – 2020+. My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 91 pts. Tasted Oct/12.
Re-review of 2010 Equuleus: The 2010 Equuleus has intense aromas of cherry, raspberry, red currant, some Earthy notes, pepper and dark chocolate. It is light to medium bodied, integrated, with balanced acidity and refined tannins, a long and smooth finish. Again, my impression: BEAUTIFUL, 91 pts. Tasted Mar/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
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
Markus Molitor Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett 2011, Qmp
Mosel, Germany$29.95
The Markus Molitor Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinet 2011 has slightly volatile as well as yellow pear notes. It is a medium bodied, sweet, fruit forward wine, with checked acidity and a medium finish that is faintly sulfurous. My impression: NOTHING SPECIAL, 87 pts - wine for this price should deliver much more. Tasted during Riesling & Co. World Tour May/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
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Studert Prüm Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett 2011, Prädikatswein, Gutsabfüllung
Mosel, Germany$19.95
The 2011 Studert-Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinet has light aromas of sulphur that quickly dissipate, after which sweet, yellow apple notes emerge. It is a medium bodied, sweet, fruity wine, with good acidity and a medium finish. Serve as an aperitif or after dinner palate refresher; drink on its own for the next 2 years. My impression: NOTHING SPECIAL to NICE, 88 pts - I can not be sure this was a bad bottle, for this price this wine deserves to be tasted again. Tasted during Riesling & Co. World Tour May/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
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Exultet Estates 'the Blessed' Chardonnay 2011, VQA Prince Edward County
Ontario, Canada$40.00
The 2011 Exultet 'the Blessed' Chardonnay spent 12 months in French Oak barrels giving it concentrated aromas of buttery oak, coconut and buttery pear. It is a full-bodied, extra-dry, integrated wine, with good acidity and a long, smooth, buttery oak, finish. This wine will complement BBQ’d meats as well as will reward simply on its own. Rated 91-92 pts and recommended based on quality. Tasted at 'County in the City' event http://grapeselections.com/county-in-the-city/ in 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
4.0 Stars
Stratus Chardonnay 2012, VQA Niagara On The Lake
Ontario, Canada$48.00
The 2012 Stratus Chardonnay, naturally ferment in barrel and then aged for 9+ months in French oak barrels (18% new), has rich aromas of butter, vanilla and oak on the nose and ripe pear, wood and vanilla + butter on the palate. It is a light to medium bodied, extra-dry, fruity to integrated wine; with good acidity and a long finish. This is a sipping wine (though food friendly); enjoy for 5-10 years (enclosed with long cork). My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 92 pts – recommended for its quality, though rather pricey. Tasted in Jul/14 at 'Barrels & Bonfires (i4C 2014)' http://grapeselections.com/i4c-2014/.
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
Marqués De Murrieta Finca Ygay Reserva 2006, Doca Rioja
Rioja, Spain$27.95
The 2006 Marqués De Murrieta Finca Ygay Reserva has intense aromas of dried cherry/black cherry, dark chocolate, oak, leather and faint vanilla. It is a medium to full-bodied, extra-dry, integrated to aged wine, with good acidity, refined tannins and a smooth and silky finish of long length. Drink as a sipper; now – 2020. My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 92 pts – recommended due to both quality and value. Tasted July/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
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Mission Hill Compendium 2009, BC VQA Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley
British Columbia, Canada$50.00
The 2009 Mission Hill Compendium, composed of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot that was fermented and aged in small French Oak barrels, has intense aromas of black cherry, blackcurrant, dark chocolate and cigar box. It is a full bodied, extra-dry, integrated wine, with food friendly acidity, refined tannins and a long and silky finish. Though compatible with food, enjoy this wine on its own, drink now – 2020+; evolution potential of +2 pts. My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 91 (93) pts – recommended based on quality though not available in Ontario. Tasted September/13.
See my wine recommendations readily available at the LCBO here:
http://grapeselections.com/mission-hill-winery-of-the-year/
or here @
http://www.winealign.com/wino/dantrcka/recommended-wines-you-can-still-buy
4.0 Stars