Deep Down is a boutique winery in Marlborough, New Zealand whose goal is to keep their wines all about the grapes. Each wine is made with organic grapes and pushes the boundaries of traditional winemaking by showing what is possible when they remove some or all additions.

Deep Down’s Roots

Deep Down was founded by Clive Dougall and Peter Lorimer in 2019. Clive was a winemaker at Seresin Estate for 12 years prior and Peter promoted boutique New Zealand brands around the world with his company the New Zealand Wine Portfolio. The two met at an opportune time when they were both looking to start a new project to celebrate distinct and delicious wines within an ethical and transparent business model. A match made in heaven with Peter running the business and Clive running the winemaking.

Deep Down is all about trusting your gut feeling and intuition, and the name reflects the duo’s decision to do just that – to trust their gut and do what they believe in, working organically and ethically. The brand also speaks of the geographical roots of the winery, deep down in the unique soils in a region known for its terroir, in a country known for its purity.

The Philosophy

Most of Clive’s winemaking journey has been spent pushing the boundaries of what’s possible when trying to remove some or all additions to wine, while ensuring premium quality, drinkability, and deliciousness. Deep Down Wines are all fermented naturally which promotes the true character of the vineyard while delivering increased depth, complexity and texture to the wines.

The goal at Deep Down is to keep it about the grapes. Every vintage is made from certified organic grapes and having as little as possible added to the products, the wines also list ingredients on the label if and when they are added, something very few wine producers are willing to do.

The Sauvignon Blanc, Arneis, and Chardonnay receive minimal Sulphur during their production and the Pinot Noir is 100% grape juice with no additions whatsoever. In a world where people are making increasingly educated, ethical and environmentally minded purchase decisions, Clive and Peter are surprised by how little awareness and confusion there is about the number and type of additives used in mainstream wines. They believe there’s no reason why winemaking can’t be as pure and honest as people already assume it is, which is why Deep Down Wines exists – the key to Deep Down is transparency.

The Wines

2021 Deep Down Sauvignon Blanc
Certified Organic & Vegan Friendly

95 points – Patrick Eckel (Wine Reviewer): A punchy nose that lacks nothing in concentration with boysenberry meeting piercing passionfruit and background guava. There is great texture that is built around what could be fresh passionfruit in terms of the sweet meets tart on the palate. The fullness of fruit and striking lines of acidity present a captivating wine.

2021 Deep Down Pinot Noir
Certified Organic, Vegan Friendly & Sulphur Free

94 points – Patrick Eckel (Wine Reviewer): A youthful red to purple in terms of colour, the nose has black cherry and plum fruit with some violets and graphite in the fold. The palate is medium bodied with a continuation of black cherry, tannins take on a black tea like character with just enough fruit derived spice to give a veneer of richness on the mid palate. There is great balance to finish with fruit, acid and oak all meshing well. An incredibly young wine in the context of how well this should age. Hold a year or two before opening your first!

Deep Down Arneis
Certified Organic & Vegan Friendly

94 points – Patrick Eckel (Wine Reviewer): A light to golden yellow in colour, the nose has a nutmeg note to apricot and raw honey. The palate has generous apricot fruit that melds with meyer lemon; texturally there is a gentle savoury pull that becomes grapefruit like on the mid palate, but is amply supported by both citrus and stone fruits. The textural grip is what defines the wines and gives a dry, almost saline note that keeps you going back for another sip. Some very clever winemaking going on here.

2021 Deep Down Chardonnay
Certified Organic & Vegan Friendly

92 points – Patrick Eckel (Wine Reviewer): An aromatic nose of white peach with dry honey and almonds. The palate has excellent weight with stone fruits taking on some spiced and savoury influence from oak and a richness from time on lees. The faint honey note continues and is supported by worked fig before the wine finishes with an enjoyable contrast between white peach and flinty citrus notes. Drinking well now, and even better in a couple of years.