Bordeaux Wine Basics - 3rd Growth Wines

There were originally 14 Third Growth wines in the 1855 Classification system but Boyd has split into 2 wineries (Cantenac Brown & Boyd Cantenac) and Chateau Dubignon ceased to exist around 1870 when it was absorbed into Chateau Malescot St. Exupery so now there are still 14 Third Growth wines. They are (in order of listing in 1855, based on price per barrel):
Chateau Kirwan (Margaux)
Chateau D'Issan (Margaux)
Chateau Lagrange (St. Julien)
Chateau Langoa Barton (St. Julien)
Chateau Giscours (Margaux)
Chateau Malescot St. Exupery (Margaux)
Chateau Cantenac Brown (Margaux)
Chateau Boyd Cantenac (Margaux)
Chateau Palmer (Margaux)
Chateau La Lagune (Haut Medoc)
Chateau Desmiral (Margaux)
Chateau Dubignon (Margaux) - defunct. Absorbed into Malescot St. Exupery
Chateau Calon Segur (St. Estephe)
Chateau Ferriere (Margaux)
Chateau Marquis D'Alesme Becker (Margaux)
Just to be clear, if we are judging the wine based on reputation and price per bottle (which is the original criteria of the 1855 Classification System), probably only Palmer and perhaps Calon Segur, Kirwan and La Lagune would meet that criteria.
I think Palmer is definitely what people expect from a 3rd growth and is probably comparable to a lot of 2nd growths in terms of consistency and quality. Of the other wines, my favorites in terms of quality are Malescot St. Exupery, La Lagune, Calon Segur and Marquis D'Alesme Becker. Wines that I think are at or quite close to 3rd growth quality and consistency are Kirwan, D'Issan, Lagrange, Langoa Barton, Giscours. Wines that I do not think many people would think of as 3rd growth quality or consistency would be Cantenac Brown, Boyd Cantenac, Desmiral and Ferriere.
I think you can find value in a lot of the Margaux 3rd growths, particularly Malescot St. Exupery and Marquis D'Alesme Becker. If Kirwan, D'Issan and Giscours can get on track, those could also provide great value (I haven't tried them for years).
Has anyone ever had Chateau Desmiral? Love to know what is it like.
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