Some notes on five Rhône wines that I selected for last week’s Côtes du Rhône wines Google hangout. It was fun trying these with fellow bloggers, and – remarkably – the hangout went through with no technical issues at all! If you have 1 h 17 min spare you can watch the whole thing here, although I believe and edited highlights version will soon be available. [Disclosure: I was paid to host the hangout, but these are my honest opinions on the wines.]

Delas Frères St Esprit 2012 Côtes du Rhône, France
Rich, sweet and meaty with lovely rounded berry and black fruits. Warm with a hint of olive and pepper. This is a ripe, Syrah-dominant wine and it shows lovely richness. 90/100 (£9.99 Majestic)

Domaine Arnaud Chaume Côtes du Rhône 2012 France
Chocolatey, rich and dense with spicy fruit and notes of herbs. Lovely blackberry fruit with some peppery characters and a hint of aniseed. A full bodied wine with a savoury edge to it. 91/100 (£12.25 Berry Bros & Rudd)

Le Clos de Caillou Le Bouquet des Garrigues Côtes du Rhône 2012 France
Floral, aromatic and warm with berry and cherry fruit. It’s silky, pure and elegant with lovely focus and some peppery notes and a touch of pot pourri. Yes, the alcohol is evident, but this is a really impressive wine. 93/100 (£16.75 H2Vin)

Domaine Georges Vernay Côtes du Rhône Sainte-Agathe 2012 France
This is a varietal Syrah from the northern Rhône, and it’s great. Notes of olives, black pepper, grilled meat and even violets. Sweet palate is smooth and ripe with lovely blackberry fruit. So delicious and fine. Warm and ripe but it has a silkiness to it. 93/100 (£19.95 Berry Bros & Rudd)

Coudoulet de Beaucastel 2012 Côtes du Rhône, France
Spicy and grippy with lovely peppery black fruits. Smooth, balanced and powerful with lovely plums and berries, and some grippy structure. A lovely wine. 92/100 (£16.63 The Little Big Wine Company)