The Weight of a Good Year: MocToe's Harvest 2025

We didn’t know it at the time, but the defining moment of Harvest 2025 wouldn’t arrive until the very end—standing on the highest point of Elephant Mountain, waiting on a single stubborn block of 1998 Cabernet to finally give the nod. Everything else had been picked. The winery was humming. But that block—our oldest at elevation—refused to be rushed.

The weight of that moment had roots in the very beginning of the year. Before spring even arrived, we were already discussing what Mother Nature gave us: snowpack at 40%, reservoirs at 38%, and a winter that left the mountains far too light. We had to make a decision before the season even began—a decision that would determine whether that final October day would feel like triumph or consequence.

The sun rises differently during harvest. It’s not the gentle awakening of spring or the long, lazy light of summer. It’s a purposeful light, a signal that another day of honest work has arrived. Here on Elephant Mountain, the air grows crisp, carrying the scent of dust and the deep, sweet perfume of ripe fruit. This is the culmination of a year’s worth of patience. This is Harvest 2025.

Another season is in the books. The vines, now bare, stand like quiet markers of the year’s work. The cellar is filled with the promise of what’s to come. This year also marked a milestone: the Elephant Mountain vineyard was acquired just in late November 2024, and a new core crew of 15 joined the existing Red Mountain team of 25. It’s a time for reflection, gratitude, and acknowledgment of the hands and foresight that made it all possible. This year, more than ever, was a testament to knowing your land and acting on instinct.

A Season of Calculated Risks

Every vintage tells a story, and 2025 began with a challenge. We came out of a mild winter with snowpack levels sitting at just 40% of average, and the five major water reservoirs holding about 38% of their typical storage—a stark reminder of how closely our craft relies on the elements. 

Waiting for nature to provide wasn’t an option. Winter pruning focused on building structure for future vintages, emphasizing vine longevity and balanced growth, and soil moisture levels were monitored weekly to ensure optimal vine health. So, we made a call grounded in both science and instinct: we started irrigating early, building up deep soil moisture reserves to carry the vines through whatever the season would throw at us. That decision—made as a team, boots in the dirt—set the stage for a year defined by balance, concentration, and ultimately, an elevated site-driven structure in the fruit.

Spring arrived on schedule, but by late May, we were seeing heat accumulation that reminded us of historically warm years. We were prepared for a scorcher. But the intense heat never came. Instead, we were gifted a rare, balanced summer. Temperatures held steady in that perfect 85–95°F range, allowing the grapes to ripen slowly and evenly. It was the kind of growing season you dream about—steady warmth without extremes, building character and complexity in the fruit.

The Hands That Guide the Vines

This work is nothing without the people who walk the rows day in and day out. Many of the crew have decades of tenure, and new members trained in advanced pruning techniques, including the Poussard and Simonit methods, have quickly become integral to the team, benefiting from guidance by our own certified expert—the only one of these methods in Washington state. Their knowledge is etched into the landscape of this vineyard.

Andrew, Founder:“This land demands you act, not wait. After more than 20 years managing vineyards, buying Elephant Mountain was a milestone—and just the start of what’s ahead. That early irrigation wasn’t about convenience; it was about control and commitment. We’re partners with this vineyard, not just caretakers. The crew made it happen—leaders like Emilio and Riley showed real grit and open-mindedness, with Emilio embracing new methods despite 40+ years on this land. We stick to minimal chemical intervention, keeping the vines healthy and honest. The 2025 Cabernet will be a standout, with fruit quality among the best we’ve seen in years. It’s about reading the land, trusting the team, and putting in the work every day.”

Riley, Vineyard Manager: “You can have all the data in the world, but nothing replaces what your boots tell you in the rows. When we saw snowpack at 40% of normal, early irrigation wasn’t a tactic—it was a commitment to protecting the season before it began. By late spring, the vines were settled and balanced, with the kind of even growth you only get when stress is managed early. Through July, the canopy and clusters developed with quiet confidence. September’s heat pushed the pace, but the berries held remarkable concentration—thick skins, lignified seeds, aromatics you could smell before the bins hit the crush pad. Seeing that fruit come in made one thing clear: every early decision showed up in the quality.”

Javi, Vinemaster Pruner: “Pruning is where the story of every vintage begins. Every cut is a decision and a promise—one that carries straight through harvesting of each grape cluster, every year. Being the only Simonit & Sirch certified Vinemaster Pruner in Washington means I teach and treat every vine with deep respect for its natural flow and longevity. The balance and concentration you taste in 2025 started with winter pruning, careful hands, and a strong understanding built over years in these blocks. To build the foundation for structure in these wines, you have to honor the plant at every turn"

Emilio, Crew Manager: "I’ve worked this land for over 25 years. I’ve seen hot years, cold years, every kind of year. 2025 was special. The warmth in September pushed us, but the old vines, they know what to do.

The crew, we know them. There’s a trust between us and the plants. We work hard, we are careful, and the vineyard gives back. This year, it gave us its best.”

The Final Push: A Harvest of Patience

Harvest began as usual, with whites and rosé reds coming in late August. Then September brought an uncharacteristic warmth, accelerating ripening across the vineyard. Varieties we normally pick in October were ready weeks early. The rhythm of harvest quickened, a steady hum of activity from sunup to sundown. One by one, the blocks were picked, each one revealing its own part of the vintage.

Yet, one block held on. Our 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon, from the highest-elevation block on the mountain, held up. Careful, block-by-block observation ensured this final high-elevation Cabernet reached peak phenolic development before picking. It took its time, benefiting from the cooler nights at altitude while soaking up the last of the season’s sun. While everything else was in, this block continued to develop, its flavors growing deeper and more complex. We waited. We watched. On October 6th, when the chemistry and flavors reached their peak, we knew it was time.

Picking that final block was a quiet moment of earned clarity. Every cluster felt like the closing line of a long season of decisions, patience, and hard-earned experience. The dust caked onto our boots—the boots that give our winery its name—became part of the story.

The Promise in the Cellar

Now, with our Cabernet Sauvignon resting in the cellar, a new chapter begins. The frenetic energy of the pick gives way to the measured patience of crush and fermentation. The veteran team’s combined decades of experience, alongside the newly trained crew, ensured that every decision in the cellar and vineyard supported fruit concentration and balance. The winery fills with unmistakable signals of what’s ahead: warm graphite rising from the cap, a hint of black cherry skin, and dried sage lifting from the fermenters. These early expressions belong wholly to this place.

This isn’t just any Washington Cabernet Sauvignon: it’s the voice of Elephant Mountain, where elevated, site-driven structure and remarkable balance set our fruit apart, even among the best. 

As global attention turns to Washington as one of the world’s premier Cabernet regions, our 2025 vintage from Elephant Mountain is poised to surpass Red Mountain's reputation—delivering concentration, complexity, and clarity that honor the site and season. 2025 is shaping up to be a vintage of exceptional quality, defined by layers, balance, and the kind of structure sommeliers and collectors seek out.

Each of the 10 barrels from our single block holds more than just juice. It holds the season—the dry winter, the early start, the balanced summer, and the long wait. Our job now is to guide this wine, to let it express the character of the vintage and the soul of the place it came from. This isn’t just a job for us. It’s a way of life. It’s a connection to something real.

A Toast to a Bountiful Year

The Weight of A Good Year: MocToe's Harvest 2025

The 2025 harvest was a reminder of what truly matters: the land that sustains us, the people who work it, and the craft that brings it all together. It was a good year, full of challenges met with foresight and rewarded with exceptional fruit.

We hope you enjoyed The Weight of a Good Year: MocToe's Harvest 2025 post. Now, we invite you to be part of this story. The wine from this vintage won't be ready for some time, but the spirit of the harvest is something we can share today. It’s a story of connection, of craftsmanship, and of a wine that values the boots in the vineyard. Thank you for walking this path with us. Here’s to a bountiful year and the promise of what’s to come.