"The Brothers" is a balanced NZ sauvignon blanc.
No sugary tat here. A tick in the box from the start. This is not a £12.99 MSB at full retail though (in my book). At the bin end price, the best QPR for MSB this year.

On opening from a wine cooler set to 9C, quite subdued. A tad spritzy just now, but mellows in the glass. I liked the initial subtlety, but that is straight out of the blocks.
The typical gooseberry is the background wall paper (not in ya face), but this includes some bramley apple that I like. The spritz and the apple, appear like a splash of top quality cider in the mix.
Lemon rind yest, Lemon verbena herb, sweet red peppers, passion fruit bits and pieces of mango. An attempt to make a slightly different style, will not numb your gums, and b/c of this, texture is superior. The nose is pretty reasonable too.

I shall know better when that spritz has gone.

Quite Good +, Interest +

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Duncan

Duncan's tasting note is spot on

Initially spritzy/slight fizz upon opening this dissipates after a short while
Typical nz sb nose.
Quite sharp citrus fruit flavours when served straight from fridge: grapefruit, lemon. Softens a bit when the temp comes up a bit
Nice enough but not sure about the accolades this receives or the rrp price tag but at discount price it's well worth it

You may be a tad more impressed on the second, or third evening. I was. I'd had a third of a soft'ish (an altogether too buttery a chablis and over ripe in the Macon guise) and indifferent Chablis 1er in between, and then went back to the Giesen Brothers, and was pretty satisfied. The ripe grapefruit in particular and mango / passion fruit odds and sods come up, the lemon zest subsides, and there is more depth.

I'm happy enough with this MSB. The Accolades - well, well ? Based on my experience above, I do think this wine could improve a little over the next 6 months.

It's a dead posh looking bottle

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Duncan

I eventually found 2 in a 'country' branch. Last 2, no label on shelf, not priced.
Agree with a lot of the above, especially re. day 2. Much nicer then. and the sherbet had sloped off.
Can't rate it as highly though. Nice enough at £6 and a bit grown-up but would not pay £13 for it.

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Four wheels move the body - 2 wheels move the soul.

No heavy spritz this time. good typical flavour profile
Drank both this an Waipara 11 last night and both we're very enjoyable

When considering these past MSB wines, and supermarket clearance.

Giesen "The Brothers" is superior to JE'11 "The Stich", and will keep in a wine cooler.
The Stich has more elegance than the Waipara Hills, but a narrower flavour profile. Some folks will appreciate the texture of Waipara Hills 2011, if not only for the interest alone, however it is not for Astrolabe and top Saint Clair purists. Having said that, the mass market 2011's were poor, but suited the UK supermarket fraturnity.

For QPR, and related to our buying prices, and past offers, sadly the Stich 2011 does not figure well. I think that sums them up Shez.

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Duncan

I like this wine but love The Brothers PN.

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mel

but love The Brothers PN

I am glad you said something about their Pinot Noir. I was wondering ? They do produce an SB style with some subtle differences, and they made a good fist of the '11 vintage. 2011 a difficult vintage (excluding 2008, perhaps more difficult !) when comparing quality, pleasure and interest with past years, say - since 2006.

Their MSB efforts bode well for a half decent PN.

Fruit for The Brothers Pinot Noir 2011 was handpicked from five vineyards in the southern valleys and hills of the Wairau Valley with one parcel from Spring Creek.

2013 Decanter Silver (2011) vintage.

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Duncan