Michael Franz

Washington, D.C.

Editor and Managing Partner at Wine Review Online

Editor & managing partner of http://t.co/UKejXMYHTy, instructor for L'Academie de Cuisine, consultant to 13 restaurants, international #wine competition judge.

Articles

Adegas Gran Vinum, Rías Baixas (Galicia, Spain) Albariño “Selección Especial” 2024 ($35, Grapes of Spain / Aurelio Cabestrero)

1 week ago | winereviewonline.com | Michael Franz

This wine is among the very best renditions of Albariño from Rías Baixas in almost every vintage, and 2024 is no exception. It is certainly a standout in terms of physical density, but the real key to its success is not its “size” but rather how driving and persistent its flavors prove to be. Purity of fruit is another key, and the notes of orchard fruits with citrus edging are utterly delicious.
San Felice, Bolgheri Superiore DOC (Tuscany, Italy) “Bell’Aja” 2022 ($75)

2 weeks ago | winereviewonline.com | Michael Franz

Made predominantly from Merlot, this young wine is exceedingly inviting in aromatic terms, with plum and dark cherry fruit notes taking the lead ahead of subtle wood accents.
Reds from Coastal Tuscany: A Rising Region for Excellence, Variety, and Value

3 weeks ago | winereviewonline.com | Michael Franz

My strong sense is that most American wine lovers and trade members know Tuscan wines predominantly within three categories: The various Chianti appellations located largely between Florence and Siena, the blended “Super Tuscans” and their more affordable Toscana IGT cousins, and Montalcino—including Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino. This set includes wines that are very important and very successful.
Villa Santo Stefano, Colline Lucchesi e Montecarlo (Tuscany, Italy) “Loto” 2016 ($65)

3 weeks ago | winereviewonline.com | Michael Franz

By comparison to the 2016 “Lippo” bottling from this same excellent producer, this top-of-line bottling is looking terrific at this point, with its blend of Bordeaux varieties still displaying depth of fruit and significant flavor impact. The blend began including Cabernet Franc in the 2019 vintage, but of course this precedes that.
Castello di Bolgheri, Bolgheri Superiore (Tuscany, Italy) 2021 ($95)

4 weeks ago | winereviewonline.com | Michael Franz

Comprised of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Merlot, this melds the depth and power that one would expect from the blend along with a freshness and sense of reserve this is indicative of the region of origin by comparison to comparable wines from around the world. Already impressively integrated at this early stage in its development, with dark fruit notes and red undertones, this is lightly spicy and toasty but still quite primary in character.
PietraNova, Bolgheri Superiore (Tuscany, Italy) “Renzo” 2021 ($62)

4 weeks ago | winereviewonline.com | Michael Franz

Comprised entirely of Cabernet Sauvignon, this is muscular and intense, but not unremittingly so, as the initial burst of black fruit flavor yields to underlying accents of light toast, baking spices, and autumn leaves. Full-bodied but without any excess weight or ripeness, this is quite composed in presentation without seeming closed or overly taut.
Cecchi, Toscana IGT (Tuscany, Italy) “Coevo” 2021 ($120)

4 weeks ago | winereviewonline.com | Michael Franz

This ultra-premium Tuscan red is a blend of 50% coastal Merlot from the Maremma blended with 50% Sangiovese from Castellina in Chianti (obviously in the Chianti Classico district). A highly polished wine that just oozes class, “Coevo” was first made in 2006 as a tribute to Luigi Cecchi, the visionary third-generation leader who spearheaded the company’s expansion.
Bodega Elias Mora, Toro (Castilla y León, Spain) “Descarte” 2019 ($65, Grapes of Spain / Aurelio Cabestrero)

1 month ago | winereviewonline.com | Michael Franz

This bodega run by Victoria Benavides is among my favorites in all of Spain, producing amazingly consistent wines every year—yet also bottlings that are distinct from one another stylistically (not so easy). The keys to this wine are its north-facing growing site (resulting in less direct sun exposure and less rapid ripening) and harvesting for freshness rather than abundant sugars in the fruit (which of course are converted to alcohol during fermentation).
Understanding the Message(s): Spending and Content of Political Advertising on Television in 2024

1 month ago | degruyterbrill.com | Travis N. Ridout |Erika Franklin Fowler |Michael Franz

Ridout, Travis N., Fowler, Erika Franklin and Franz, Michael M.. "Understanding the Message(s): Spending and Content of Political Advertising on Television in 2024" The Forum, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1515/for-2025-2002Ridout, T., Fowler, E. & Franz, M. (2025). Understanding the Message(s): Spending and Content of Political Advertising on Television in 2024. The Forum. https://doi.org/10.1515/for-2025-2002Ridout, T., Fowler, E. and Franz, M.
Beiler Père & Fils, Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence (France) Rosé “Sabine”2024 ($15)

1 month ago | winereviewonline.com | Michael Franz

I taste about 300 Rosé wines each March in my role as consultant to 14 restaurants around Washington, D.C., and without fail this wine is near the top of those priced at $16 or under. From the 2024 vintage, it was the best of all the wines submitted, and as proof of its exceptional quality, the 2023 bottles still in the market (shown to me before the 2024 arrived) are likewise among the very best available in the USA — from anywhere in the world.