Domaine de la Tour, Valais (Switzerland) Pinot Noir 2011

 This is quite a surprising and impressive Pinot in light of its depth of flavor and freshness of fruit at this stage, nearly seven years after the vintage.  The color is also impressively deep, and yet there’s very little evident oak (and wood aging has the effect of “fixing” or solidifying the pigments in Pinot Noir, which can precipitate out from examples vinified without wood).  Also surprising is the fact that the wine remains so fruity at this stage, and yet fruit is not the only attraction, as there are interesting savory notes lending complexity…and those seem to have originated from time in bottle.  The flavors are really more akin to berries than cherries, which makes a bit of sense as this was a warm vintage in south-central Europe, but still…we’re talking Switzerland here, and a part of it along the section of the Rhône from which the Alps are in clear view.  But in the last analysis, my befuddlement is of no import by comparison to the simple question of whether the wine is delicious, food-friendly, and worth the asking price–and the clear answer must be affirmative to all three questions.