We invited some friends to our house in Michigan for dinner and my wife made pot roast for the main course after starting with a salad with dried cherries, bleu cheese crumbles and a raspberry vinagrette. We decided to pull some CdP's with dinner after starting with a couple German Rieslings. The pot roast was excellent as usual. The Guigal's outperformed the Lesec's in my opinion. Here are my notes:

2001 E. Guigal Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (10/28/2009)
Opened this alongside several CdP's including the 1998 Guigal. This was much better than the last bottle of this that I had a few years ago and was the best CdP of the night. Not decanted. This had the most tannic grip. Notes of berry with earthy red fruit. Very vibrant with a long finish. This seemed to fade a little as the night went on. 92 points.

1998 E. Guigal Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (10/28/2009)
Brought by our friends. Not decanted. This was light bodied and tasted old at first. An restrained wine with iodine notes. I tried this about 2 hours later and it had changed for the better. Much rounder and more tannins showing. Give this wine some air. 88 points upon opening and 89-90 later.

2000 Patrick Lesec Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Galets Blonds - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (10/28/2009)
Second time I have had this wine. Last time was in 2002. This bottle was not quite as good as the last one. Opened this next to the 1998 and 2 Guigal CdP's. Not decanted. 14% alcohol. I found this wine to be sharp and very similar in style to the 1998. Moderate tannins with notes of currants. Alcohol was present on the nose. 87 points.

1998 Patrick Lesec Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Galets Blonds - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (10/28/2009)
Second time I have had this. My least favorite of the 4 CdP's opened. Not decanted. I noted a rather high glycerin level again in this wine and it was more pronounced now. Spritzy with tart fruit notes including raspberry. Light bodied. 84-85 points.

VM