This is superb, with everything in the right place, beginning with macerated cherry, kirsch, sandalwood and stone notes. Layers of flavors build on the palate, remaining fresh and focused through the lingering aftertaste. Great energy here.

Light, pale and charming, this is always the most approachable and forward of the Rousseau grand cru bottlings, almost ready to drink from barrel. It's sweet and appealing, with supple summer pudding flavours, a hint of cola and supple tannins. (TA)

The 2017 Charmes-Chambertin from Domaine Armand Rousseau is another great vintage for this bottling, which has hit some superb high water marks in recent times, with 2005, 2010, 2014 and now 2017 a significant step up from what this bottling was capable of back in the decades of the 1980s or 1990s. The 2017 offers up a deep and nicely black fruity bouquet of black cherries, black plums, dark soil tones, raw cocoa, grilled meats, woodsmoke and a touch of cedar. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and quite powerful in personality this year, with a sappy core of dark fruit, ripe, seamless tannins, excellent focus and grip and (Drink between 2029-2075)

Domaine Armand Rousseau prefer to blend their enviable holdings of 0.51ha Charmes-Chambertin and 0.86ha of Mazoyeres-Chambertin into one wine. It has often been the convention to suggest that this wine, in common with some of their other less well known cuvees, is noticeably less interesting in quality than the top cuvees. Having said which, trying their Charmes-Chambertin within its peer group, the Rousseau Charmes is definitely of interest. An even pale red to crimson, showing the classical Rousseau elegance on the nose. Discreet, gently nuanced, soft red berries with some discernible oak. The recipe here is for no new wood but 100% one year old barrels. Very graceful long finish.

Rousseau's 2017 Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru is showing nicely, wafting from the glass with inviting aromas of red berries, plums and peonies mingled with hints of cedar, raw cocoa and mandarin orange. Medium to full-bodied, supple and enveloping, it's soft and charming, with melting tannins and an ample core of fruit. Generous and demonstrative, like many 2017s it has picked up a bit of richness and depth in bottle. (William Kelley)