With the elegance only a magical Hilltop vista can bring framed by the one stunted oak tree that has spent the past few hundred years making the scene even more memorable the 2017 Hilltops will wow you. But unlike the immediacy of the Instagram post from atop the hill, this work of art will develop and deliver much greater depth than the photos. For now, herb garden aromas straight out of a Provence fairy tale twirl around the nose bordered by fruit trees and lavender. The palate hits on juicy black cherries atop those hallmark savory Syrah notes we (Syrah fanatics) all seek out: juicy, spit-roasted meats. A true feasting wine. The 2017 necessitates protein with a salinity component that wets the appetite and perks up the palate. All of this, the yummy cherries and the salty, herbal, mineral complexity – all – get wrapped in the fleshy dumpling of richness that harkens back to the aged Hilltops bottlings from last decade.