1996 Ch. Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan

The connoisseurs’ first growth, and notably the one with the smallest production.  The 1996 is a completely different wine to the slightly brutish 1995.  This has an ethereal lightness to it.  Approachable now though with many, many years ahead.
(Joss Fowler - BBR Fine Wine Team - 19-Nov-2008)

50% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon. Looks more evolved than the Bahans. Wonderfully round and developed and subtle. More subtle than La Mission with a drier finish. Chewy end still there - and in with a fight. This does not seem to have fully unfurled yet and should make a great wine eventually. Putty and minerals. Still quite tight.
(Jancis Robinson - Bordeaux '96s Today - jancisrobinson.com - 21-Sept-2011)

Only 60% of the total production made it into the final blend, which consists of 50% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Cabernet Franc. This wine has completely shut down since it was first bottled. Nevertheless, there is immense potential. This is a relatively structured, backward style of Haut-Brion, without the up-front succulence that some of the sweeter vintages such as 1989 and 1990 provide. The wine has a deep ruby color to the rim and a subtle but emerging nose of scorched earth, dried herbs, black currants, smoke, and a hint of fig. The wine is very concentrated, powerfully tannic, with medium body and outstanding equilibrium, but currently the wine seems to have settled into a very dormant state.
(Robert Parker - Bordeaux Book (4) - Dec 2003)