A recent auction had some no reserve lots and I was shocked to win a bunch of 1994 Ch. de Fieuzal Blanc for ⅓ of low estimate. OK! I know 1994 was the beginning of the PremOx era in white Bordeaux (probably worse than white Burg) but I can take some losses at that price. Served last night with citrus accented lemon sole on potatoes, with broccoli and salad.
So first bottle opens nicely, then color begins to darken. Pear, a bit of almond, some oxidation creeping in on backend. Drinkable, but I set aside for cooking (making some ropa vieja, needed a cup and a half), opened second bottle. Bottle #2 is fresher, without much oxidation at all. Grapefruit, a touch of grass, honied nuts and some vanillin oak. Good acids, moderate finish, drinks well. B- for bottle #1, B/B+ for bottle # 2
At end of night tried bottle #1 again, had not oxidized further, certainly drinkable.
Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C drinkable. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.