There are some dishes and desserts that can garner fame.  My mom has always been an amazing cook.  If you know her, and it’s your birthday, you can count on something special.  Especially if you like coconut.  Mention of her coconut cake causes friends and family to audibly sigh.  It is a guaranteed show-stopper, a cake that needs a special partner.

You can’t have a celebration without bubbles.   So when we got together to celebrate my brother-in-law’s birthday, I planned ahead and chilled a bottle of bubbles, Pas de Deux from The Biltmore Estate.  Translated, the name means “a dance for two” and it is, indeed, an excellent partner.

I admit that I was hesitant.  Because this sparkler is considered “sec,” one with a higher residual sugar content, I wasn’t sure if I would like it.  I generally like my bubbles dry, but with the cake, this was perfect.  Pale yellow with a bit of green, lovely little bubbles, and a great nose.  Sweet cream and citrus.  On the palate, intense perfumed fruit.  Maybe tropical?  Guava?  Something round and soft with a citrusy finish.  I thought grapefruit, they say lemon.

It doesn’t take many turns around the dance floor to know if you’ve partnered well.  A great partner makes you spin and shine in ways you didn’t know you could.  The wrong match can lead to bruised egos and toes.  Pas de Deux made an already fabulous cake even better.  I would imagine its dance card would fill up quickly at any celebration.

*{Disclosure: I was provided with these wines from PR Firm, Folsom & Associates. All statements and opinions expressed in this article are my own.}