Two trees joined by a single branch
Le Clos
SauvageThe Wild Clos
David & Sophie Devynck's polycultural haven on the Beaujolais-Burgundy border. Organic farming, wild vines reclaimed, and a family seeking autonomy through wine, bees, cows, and chestnut forests.
A year wandering France to find home
David and Sophie Devynck spent a year doing a "Tour de France"—traveling through vineyards across the country searching for the right place to start their domaine. They found it in Leynes: a wild, abandoned clos perched at 400-450 meters on the border of Beaujolais and Burgundy, with views stretching from Mont Blanc to the Roche de Solutré [^232^][^233^].
David Devynck
VigneronSpent 8 years working in organic vineyards in Gaillac, including time with Stéphane Derencourt. Brings technical expertise and a deep commitment to organic farming. "We found our place"—a place where the wildness of the land could be restored rather than tamed [^232^].
Sophie Devynck
Partner & FamilyTogether with David, she forms the heart of this family project. With their young children, they live on-site, tending not just vines but a whole ecosystem—bees, cows, fruit trees, and forest. The logo on their bottles depicts two trees in the courtyard joined by a single branch: symbol of their union and connection to the land [^231^][^234^].
When we arrived in 2019, the vines were in a truly wild state... abandoned and untended. The relative isolation of the Clos helps us in our struggle to farm organically, with few farmers around us to disrupt what we are trying to do.
— David Devynck, 2023
Borderlands — where Beaujolais meets Burgundy
The Elevation
Perched atop a hill at 400-450 meters, with sweeping views over the Saône Valley. Mont Blanc to the east, the Bois de Leynes to the north, and the Roche de Solutré to the west [^233^].
The Forest
Surrounded by chestnut forests, dry-stone walls, natural springs, and wild heathland. The isolation protects them from pesticide drift from neighboring farms [^233^].
The Soil
A unique mix of granitic soils lightly dusted with clay-limestone. The domaine sits on the precise border between Beaujolais and Burgundy, allowing them to work with both Gamay and Chardonnay [^232^][^233^].
The estate came with 7 hectares of vines, but they pulled out 5 hectares that were in poor condition, keeping only the most productive 2 hectares. They now have 6 hectares in production after careful replanting and restoration [^232^].
Beyond wine — a farm in search of autonomy
After losing 80% of their crop to frost in 2021, David and Sophie were reinforced in their wish to be more than just a winery—to create a polyculture enterprise where vines coexist with animals, orchards, and forest. They cultivate in agro-ecology, respecting soil life and developing diversity [^232^][^234^].
🐄 Highland Cows
Grazing the meadows, contributing to the farm's biodiversity and closed-loop system.
🐝 Bees
Hives throughout the property, pollinating the orchards and producing honey.
🌳 50 Fruit Trees
A conservatory orchard with diverse heritage varieties, supporting ecosystem balance.
🌲 10ha Woodland
Chestnut forests and meadows surrounding the vines, creating natural protection.
"We are a farm in search of autonomy."
— Le Clos Sauvage ethos
Freshness and precision from wild vines
All wines are certified organic, hand-harvested, and fermented with indigenous yeasts. David uses a combination of destemming and whole cluster (often layering them in the tank), with élevage in older 400-500L barrels. The results are wines marked by freshness and vivid mineral energy—transparent expressions of this unique border terroir [^231^][^232^].
Beaujolais-Leynes
From vines around the house. Granitic and sandy soils, but heavier than Fleurie. 70% destemmed, 30% whole cluster. Cool maceration, some light pigeage, aged in older 400L barrels. "More opulent than we made in 21"—dark fruit, full and generous, with mineral finishing [^232^].
70% destemmed / 30% whole bunch
400L barrel élevage
Dark fruit, mineral finish
Saint-Amour
From vines near Pirolette. Hyper attractive nose, "cushioned and of velour"—precision of dark fruit with a sizzle of energy. Extra intensity, faintly tannic but practically no grain. A slight lick of finishing salinity. Great concentration from old vines [^232^][^246^].
Near Pirolette sector
Velour texture
Saline finish
Saint-Véran "Canopé"
From "over the border in Burgundy." Very attractive nose—ripe but vibrant fruit. More clarity in the width, some classy structure. Faint barrel flavors heading into the finish. The 2022 shows nervy, mineral Chardonnay character [^232^].
1/3 tank, 2/3 barrel
Limestone soils
Barrel notes, vibrant
Saint-Véran "L'Effet"
From Bois de Fée—higher altitude on the border of Leynes and Fuissé. Much more limestone here, classic red clay too. Deeper, more obvious barrel notes. Wide, nicely intense and direct. The finish is obviously longer and more complex [^232^].
Bois de Fée vineyard
Higher altitude
Long, complex finish
Bourgogne Blanc
Vines next to the house—plenty of granite in the lower slope, some limestone higher up. One-third tank élevage. Very aromatic, floral, faintly herbed. Direct, mineral, faintly tannic with nice energy. Concentrated with a little rigour in the middle—very good [^232^].
Granite & limestone
1/3 tank elevage
Floral, herbed, direct
Vin Pétillant "Mosac"
Méthode ancestrale from the Gaillac grape Mosac—a nod to David's time in the southwest. Calm but broad nose with complexities in the depth. Nice, aromatic, floral flavors—never heavy, almost contemplative but engrossing [^232^].
Méthode ancestrale
Aromatic & floral
Gaillac connection
Also Produced
Julienas — From the northernmost Beaujolais Cru, where Gamay takes on a different character.
Mâcon Chaintré — White Burgundy from the Mâconnais, showing the full range of their border location.
Pouilly-Fuissé — The pinnacle of their white wine expression from the heart of the Mâconnais.