The 1999 Chateauneuf du Pape, a strong, powerful offering, requires 1-2 years of cellaring, unusual for this vintage. A blend of 70% Grenache and equal proportions of Syrah, Cinsault, and Mourvedre, it exhibits a healthy ruby/plum/purple color as well as a big, sweet nose of black fruits intertwined with resin, seaweed, and earth. There is marvelous concentration, a firm, tannic underpinning, a seriously extracted style, and a tight but long, powerful finish. Anticipated maturity: 2003-2015. Importers: Mervyn Hecht Wines, Santa Monica, CA; tel. (408) 685-1148 and Alain Junguenet, Wines of France, Mountainside, NJ; tel. (908) 654-6173