6 bottle level     $30 (member price $27)
100% Mencia   14.5% ABV

Bodegas Estefania was founded in 1999 in the heart of Bierzo – the ancestral home of the Mencia grape.  The Frias family converted an old dairy into a winery.  Its main brand Tilenus was inspired by the primitive god Teleno, the Celtic god of war, similar to the Roman god Mars.  Their aim has been to commemorate the golden age of the Romans in Bierzo.  It’s an high elevation area with cold winters, hot summers and a large diurnal swing.  The vines of La Florida Vineyard are 80-100 years old.  Aged 14 months in neutral French oak barrels.  Wines from Mencia are often medium-bodied, but La Florida has good tannins and depth.  Smooth red raspberry, red plum and smoke on the attack.  Finishes with tannins and minerality.

Food Pairing Suggestions:
Enjoy this Spanish red with black-pepper crusted salmon over mushroom rice, bison medallions with mixed berries, seared duck breast with duck fat fried potatoes, beef medallions over roasted potatoes, braised lamb shoulder with red‐ wine sauce and beets, beef stew Provençal, flank steak with Chimichurri, braised‐beef pappardelle and juicy bison burgers with blue cheese and bacon.  After dinner, enjoy a glass of this elegant, energetic red with creamy cheeses like Bucheron, Gouda, Reblochon, Saint‐Nectare,and Vacherin.