90 David Schildknecht - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

"The generic Diel 2009 Burg Layen Riesling Kabinett (corresponding more or less to the wine labeled last year as 'Burg Layen Kabinett') is generous with apple and pear; tinged with Erdener Treppchen-like notes of sassafras and licorice; and finishes with subtle sweetness, ample juiciness, and alluring underlying nuttiness. A mysterious hint of gentian emerged in one of the two bottles I tasted as it opened to the air. This combines creaminess, refreshment, and interactive complexity in a manner that anticipates the striking success of the Diel single-vineyard Kabinetts. And at 10.5% alcohol, it sacrifices no sense of levity or delicacy yet is able to project merely discreet sweetness. Enjoy this delightfully versatile Riesling over the next 10-12 years."