Château Saïkouk
Meeting with Latifa Saikouk, winegrower in the Medoc …
Château Saïkouk is a young and dynamic property created, carried out and embodied by Latifa Saikouk. This young winemaker is the daughter of agricultural workers who arrived from Morocco in 1972 is a lover of her terroir, wine and epicureanism. She bathed from her earliest childhood in the world of wine spending her holidays in vineyards or cellars.
Why did you decide to become a winemaker?
“I grew up among the vines of Château Verdignan. Every Wednesday after school we went to pull the wood, take out the branches at the end of the row … The wine and the vine have always attracted me a lot.
Mr Dupuy who was my neighbor and winegrower in love with his terroir gave me his passion. I would see him all the time after school. He gave me his wine virus and when I was old enough to be able to taste he brought me to my first tastings at the wine competition of Bourg. I did this for 4/5 years focusing mainly on white wines. Then I stopped going to this competition to taste the thirty wines that are here in Saint-Seurin. When he retired in 2001, I naturally took over his vineyards and set up the Château Saikouk. I also wanted to keep the label Château Le Mont Du Puit as a tribute to this man. In 2003 I vinified my first harvest in the cellar.
At present I produce, most years, between 9,000 and 10,000 bottles. ”
What is the signature of the wines of Château Saïkouk ? What makes it possible to recognize them in blind tasting?
“I do not try to make a hard, austere wine but wines that can be enjoyed from the aperitif until the end of the meal; wines that you can drink young, on any occasion… The only exception is the cuvée “Le O de Saikouk” which is best made to be a wine of gastronomy, to drink with a food pairing.
Generally speaking, we are more likely to sense black ripe fruits than fresh red fruits and they will not be overloaded with woody aromas. ”
For my part I would add that the wines of Château Saïkouk are characterized by a fine minerality and a “pleasurable / accessible” side. These are balanced wines that offer freshness. Very often there are fine licorice notes at the finish.
If you had to summarize your passion for wine in a few adjectives what would you say?
“For me, wine is the story of my life. It is sharing, conviviality, love … ”
Do you have a project in particular for the years to come?
“Yes, I would like to make a white wine. I recently planted 40 acres (60% Sauvignon Blanc, 40% Sémillon) in the town of Ordonnac to eventually make a white cuvee.
Another project I also have is a house nearby that I would like to transform into a guest house and tasting room. “
