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
Francis Ford Coppola Director's Cut Zinfandel 2011, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
California, Usa$32.95
The 2011 Francis Ford Coppola Director’s Cut Zinfandel, from Dry Creek in Sonoma, has attractive aromas of blackberry, black cherry and vanilla on both the nose and palate. It is a medium to full bodied, extra-dry, fruity wine; with good acidity, dusty tannins and a medium to long, smooth finish. This party favorite is a food friendly and sipping wine; drink now – 2020. My impression: quite NICE, 90 pts – recommended for its quality. Tasted in Apr/14 at 'California Wine Fair' 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
2.5 Stars
(0)V
Torre Saracena Riserva Salice Salentino 2009
Puglia, Italy$13.75
The 2009 Torre Saracena Riserva Salice Salentino, composed of 80% Negroamaro and 20% Malvasia Nera which were aged in oak for 10 months, has intense aromas of dark chocolate, toasted/smoked wood and clove on the nose and cherry and wood on the palate. It is a medium bodied, extra-dry, integrated wine; with tart acidity, refined tannins (decant for 15-30 min) and a long finish. This is a food friendly wine though I would recommend sipping it (if you can handle the acidity); drink now to 2018 (cork enclosure). My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 90 pts – recommended for its value (bin end product - $2 off). Tasted in Sep/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
2.5 Stars
(0)V
Strewn Two Vines Riesling Gewurztraminer 2012, Niagara On The Lake
Ontario, Canada$11.95
The 2012 Strewn Two Vines Riesling Gewurztraminer has a nice bouquet of honeydew melon, lemon, lime and lees. It is a medium bodied, dry/med-dry wine; with refreshing acidity and a medium finish. Drink with food; drink now – 2017. My impression: NOTHING SPECIAL to NICE, 88 pts - well priced. Tasted Dec/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
2.5 Stars
(0)G
Sunnybrook Estate Pear Blossom Wine 2012
Ontario, Canada$18.95
The 2012 Sunnybrook Estate Blossom Series Pear Wine has fruity and floral aromas of pear and quince. It is a light bodied, medium-dry, fruity wine; BALANCED with refreshing acidity and a medium, clean finish. With 11% alcohol, have a glass or two early in the afternoon on a patio. My impression: quite NICE, 86-87 pts – fine example of this fruit wine style and hence recommended for its quality. 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
2.5 Stars
(0)V
Geyser Peak Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County
California, Usa$19.95
The 2009 Geyser Peak Cabernet Sauvignon, sourced from Alexander Valley in Sonoma County, has deep notes of tobacco, toast, wood, cherry/black cherry, red currant, vanilla and dates. It is a medium bodied, extra-dry, integrated wine; BALANCED with good acidity, refined tannins and a long finish. Though food friendly, sip this wine; drink now to 2020+. My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 91 pts – recommended for quality and value. Tasted in Apr/14 at 'California Wine Fair' 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
2.5 Stars
(0)V
Strewn Chardonnay Barrel Aged 2013, Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$13.95
The 2013 Strewn Chardonnay Barrel Aged has Icewine-like aromas of sweet apricot, honey, nuts and acacia on the nose and stewed pear, stewed gooseberry and intense oak + vanilla on the palate. It is a medium bodied, extra-dry/dry, fruity wine; OFF-BALANCE, slightly oxidized with checked acidity and a long, vanilla/oak dominated finish. Drink this wine with heavier, acid-forward foods; drink now (screw cap enclosure). My impression: NOTHING SPECIAL, 84 pts – long way off from the 2012 vintage that scored 88-89 pts. Tasted in Apr/15 at 'LTO Chardonnay tasting' http://grapeselections.com/lto-chardonnay-tasting/.
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
2.5 Stars
(0)G
1951 Rotary Club Unoaked Chardonnay 2012
Ontario, Canada$11.25
The 2012 Rotary Club 1951 Unoaked Chardonnay is a wine crafted by Château Des Charmes and $1 from the proceeds go to the club’s foundation http://rotarylakeshore.org/. The wine has subtle aromas of limestone minerality, yellow apple, pineapple and gooseberry on the nose and stems, pineapple and lemon on the palate. It is a light bodied, extra-dry, fruity wine; with checked acidity and a short finish. Drink with food (decant for 15 min and serve at 10°C); drink now and for the next few years (screw cap enclosure). Rated 86 pts. Tasted in Sep/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
2.5 Stars
(0)G
St. Francis Cabernet Sauvignon 2011, Sonoma County
California, Usa$0.00
The 2011 St. Francis Cabernet Sauvignon, composed of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 3% Malbec, 3% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc all harvested throughout Sonoma and aged in French Oak for 18 months; has fullish aromas of blackberry, plum and vanilla on the nose and red currant, dates, oak and vanilla on the palate. It is a full bodied, dry, fruity wine; with good acidity, refined tannins and a long finish. This is a food friendly and party favourite wine; drink now and for the next 5 years (cork enclosure). My impression: NICE, 89 pts. Tasted in Oct/14 at 'Tasted at Discover Sonoma County event ' http://grapeselections.com/sonoma-wines-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
2.5 Stars
(0)
Pillitteri Cabernet/Merlot VQA 2008
Ontario, Canada$12.95
The 2008 Pillitteri Cabernet/Merlot, composed of 46% Cabernet Franc, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Merlot, is medium bodied with fruity to INTEGRATED notes of strawberry and pepper (contribution from the Cab Franc). Tannins are refined (decant for 15 min) and the finish is medium and bit sweet. Drink now or for the next two years. It is an easy drinking wine, my impression: NOTHING SPECIAL to NICE, 85 pts. Tasted Nov/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
2.0 Stars
(0)G
Tommasi Ripasso 375ml 2007, Valpolicella Classico Superiore
Veneto, Italy$11.45
This light to medium bodied Ripasso (I tried the 750 ml version) has nice fruity to integrated aromas of black cherry and slight notes of vanilla and oak. The definite taste of grape skins contributes to the medium to long finish. The tannins are refined (decant for 30 min) and the wine should age nicely for at least 5 more years. My impression: NICE. Tasted Apr/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
2.0 Stars
(0)V