Mission Excellent

Last night Sox and I went out for dinner all by ourselves. We went to the Mission Estate Winery. This winery has been around for over 150 years, so you would expect them to know what they were doing. They didn’t disappoint us.

The ambiance and atmosphere was spectacular. The winery grounds are amazing, so anywhere you sit in the restaurant, you are treated to a great view.

For the first time ever in a restaurant, Sox and I ordered a bottle of wine. We got the 2007 Mission Estate Cabernet Merlot (pdf link). I think this was the best wine I have ever had. I am not a wine connoisseur, and I can’t explain why I like a wine, or describe what it tastes like. I can tell you if I like it or not. This wine I loved.

For dinner Sox got a pork cutlet that was excellent. I ordered the Fillet of Beef. It was astounding. When it arrived it was still steaming hot which is something I don’t get at a lot of restaurants I go to. Accompanying the beef was some scalloped potatoes, baby beets, and baby carrots, and drizzled over everything an au jus to die for. The beef was cooked perfectly for me (medium), and was the most tender beer I have ever tasted.

After dinner we grabbed our wines and went for a little walk and let our dinner settle. Looking out over the vineyard after the sun had set was pretty nice.

Back at our table we ordered dessert, maple rice pudding for me and berry crème brûlée for Sox. Mine was good, but Sox’s was excellent. We then had coffee and tea to end the night.

It was wonderful to spend the evening with my wife in a grown up setting with no kids. It was also the first time since we landed that I have worn pants and shoes instead of shorts and flip flops.