Waterkloof Circle Of Life 2023 Wine Review

Natalie's Score: 94/100

Waterkloof's Circle of Life from Stellenbosch is a compelling, full-bodied red blend of Mourvèdre, Syrah, and Grenache, offering an alluring mix of dried blackberry, crushed violets, sun-warmed olive, smoked meat, and cracked black pepper, with a lingering thread of garrigue on the finish. It's dry and generously flavoured, with succulent fruit, fresh acidity, and velvety tannins that give the wine a beautifully cohesive, layered feel. The wine was matured for 20 months in older 600-litre barrels, a choice that allows the wine's wild, expressive character to shine through without the distraction of heavy oak. Waterkloof is one of South Africa's most committed biodynamic estates, farming its vineyards on the Schapenberg mountain overlooking False Bay with horses rather than tractors, a philosophy that speaks directly to the vitality and purity you find in the glass. This wine is the convenient half bottle size (375 ml) which is ideal when you'd like to begin a meal with a glass and half each to toast. Serve it at room temperature with grilled game sausages alongside roasted root vegetables, where the wine's earthy depth and peppery backbone are right at home, or try it with herb-crusted tri-tip roast beef, which draws out the wine's dark fruit richness and savoury complexity. It will reward cellaring through 2031.

Food pairings: grilled game sausages, pork chops, tri-tip roast beef.

Glorious Game Wine

This Waterkloof Circle Of Life 2023 was reviewed on May 16, 2026 by Natalie MacLean

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Please note that our reviews are based on a variety of sources: samples sent to our team, those we purchase in store, tasting events, those tasted in restaurants and while traveling domestically and internationally.

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