Deep Down Pinot Noir '21

Deep Down Wines is a small winery in Marlborough, on the country’s South Island. A collaboration of two New Zealand families, it was founded by Clive Dougall, who was winemaker at Seresin Estate for 12 years, and Peter Lorimer, who promoted boutique New Zealand brands around the globe with his company the New Zealand Wine Portfolio. Deep Down produces wines that are small batch, low intervention, delicious, and approachable, from carefully farmed land.

All of the Deep Down wines are fermented naturally by the vineyard yeasts that live on the grapes, which reflects the character of the vineyard while increasing the depth, complexity, and texture of the wines. The vines for the Pinot Noir bottling average 33 years in age and are grown in the Poplars vineyard. The fruit is fully destemmed and fermented in open-top vessels, with three weeks of skin contact. The wine is matured in used 500-liter puncheons for five months.
 
This Pinot Noir is very open on the nose and so easy to like as soon as it’s poured. The nose shows aromas of rich dark fruit, from cherry and raspberry to plum, with a savory character and light notes of cocoa, coffee, and baking spices. It’s medium bodied, with soft, fine-grained tannins and bright acidity that gives it a clean finish. Pair it with roasted duck with lentils, roasted chicken with tarragon and mushrooms, or a pork stir-fry.