The Dirt
Single block Cabernet Sauvignon
With our arid environment receiving only 5 to 6 inches of annual rainfall, we manually craft the perfect irrigation balance. By inducing moderate water stress in late June and early July, the vines focus their energy on producing concentrated phenolic compounds. This advanced water management ensures our single-block, own-rooted Cabernet Sauvignon reserve showcases unparalleled depth, refinement, and character, vintage after vintage.
Own rooted
Our vines, rooted since 1998 and 1999, remain ungrafted, staying true to their origins. This choice preserves authenticity and purity, as the roots connect directly to the terroir without interference from external rootstocks. These vines, while rare, embody a philosophy of minimal intervention and ultimate respect for what Mother Nature provides.
Elevated at fifteen hunderd Feet
High atop the Rattlesnake Hills in Washington State lies the Elephant Mountain vineyard, perched on the elevated, south-facing slopes of Elephant Mountain - a site known for producing Washington’s most ageworthy wines. Here, nature and nurture weave a tapestry of perfection for our vines. At 1,300 - 1,500 feet elevation, every factor — from the soil under boot, the farmers hands, to the sunlit sky — is intimately connected to create the ultimate expression of our single block Cabernet Sauvignon.
Harwood Burke Wiehl
The Elephant Mountain estate lies on a landscape complex of three distinctive units, ridge tops, side slopes of steeper hills underlaid by old alluvium and soft sediments of the Ellensburg formation. These well-drained soils force roots deep, yielding smaller berries with concentrated flavor and complexity. At these elevations, the land itself becomes an artist, sculpting the nuances that end up bottled in every reserve of MocToe Cabernet Sauvignon.
Magical micro climate
Sitting at a latitude with long summer days, it isn’t just any sunlight that makes our fruit special. Elevated UV-B radiation spurs the development of anthocyanins and phenolic compounds, giving our single block Cabernet Sauvignon its signature depth of color, robust body, and elegance.
The diurnal temperature swings of Elephant Mountain plays another crucial role. Warm days ensure the grapes develop rich, ripe flavors, while cool nights retain acidity and balance. The long growing season contributes to developing deep, refined tannins. This harmonious interaction results in wines capable of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Napa’s Howell Mountain or even Alto Maipo in Chile.
Low rainfall, precise irrigation, and steady mountain winds naturally reduce disease pressure and allow for minimal intervention.
Sustainable
For us, sustainability isn’t a trend — it’s how we farm, live, and protect the land that gives us everything.
After two decades in these rows, we know the vineyard thrives when we give back as much as we take.
Every decision at MocToe balances soil health, crew well-being, and the quality in your glass.
-
Building Natural Resilience – Encouraging deep root systems and conserving water with precise irrigation.
-
Minimal Intervention – Reducing chemical inputs, letting nature set the rhythm of the season.
-
Cover Crops & Soil Health – Restoring nutrients, preventing erosion, and fostering biodiversity.
-
Wildlife Stewardship – Respecting the coyotes, hawks, and pollinators that keep our ecosystem in balance.
-
People First – Fair wages, safe conditions, and a crew that takes pride in their craft.
You will taste the difference in our terroir shaped by restraint, respect, and time. This is wine made to last — for this generation and the next.
Wine With Heart
After three decades farming this mountain, we know its rows like my our hands. The wines we craft here are powerful yet balanced, shaped by the land’s intensity and its rare harmony.
This wine is a tribute to the stories of farmers, workers and the land - in every bottle.
Walk with me
more than terroir
The Boot Program
At MocToe, the people behind the vines matter.
Every bottle supports our crew through The Boot Program — helping families, celebrating their work, and keeping this mountain alive.
