A blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, the Damijan 2015 Prelit sees extended fermentation on the skins, keeping with a distinctive, out-of-the-mainstream house style. This is a delicately fragrant and graceful red with floral aromas of dried rose and cherry blossom. Earthy notes, iron ore and rusty nail add a fine layer of salty minerality that emerges quietly from the rear. What you have here is a slender, lean-bodied red blend that would pair well with a Friulian recipe of fatty eel.

Here is a very ripe red wine with evident notes of strawberry and blackberry preserves. The 2011 Prelit is a blend of 70% Merlot with 30% Cabernet Sauvignon that is fermented on the skins for two months. That long process adds power, astringency and a lasting sense of structure. This wine is built like a fortress with a tightly-knit brickwork composed of rock hard tannins, acidity and extraction. In terms of aromas, the wine offers thick layers of mineral and ash, backed by sweet fruit and astringent spice.

The 2009 Rosso Prelit is a 70-30 Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon blend fermented in conical tanks for 40 days and aged in oak 23 months. The aromas are very distinctive. You get sweet spice, balsam herb, cured meat, jammy fruit, dried figs and a distinct note of green olive or caper. The tannins are polished and firm and the wine is loaded tight with tonic, fruity energy. Ironically, this red wine probably has a shorter cellar life than the skin-macerated “orange” wines (with white grapes) made by this producer. Drink: 2014-2017. These are a great set of Orange wines from natural winemaker Damijan Podversic. Importers: Omniwines Distributing, www.omniwines.com; Vinity Wine Company, www.vinitywinecompany.com

The 2008 Rosso Prelit impresses for its sleek, elegant personality. Fine, silky tannins support expressive dark red fruit, sweet tobacco, spices and leather. The long finish is particularly captivating. In 2008 the blend is 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2023. Damijan Podversic is one of Friuli’s most inspired artisan producers. Vintage 2008 was challenging for Podversic. Hail wiped out a significant amount of his Friulano, so there is no Nekaj bottling. On a more positive note, the cold weather allowed for the development of botrytis – especially in the Ribolla and Malvasia – and a very late harvest. The 2008s saw 2-3 months of contact on the skins, followed by 2 years in cask and another year and half in bottle. These aren’t the most immediate wines, but they will provide immense pleasure to those who are willing to spend some time with them. No American importer

Damijan’s 2007 Rosso Prelit opens with suggestions of espresso, mocha, grilled herbs and blackberries, all of which come together on an elegant, mid-weight frame. The tannins need another few years to soften. Prelit is 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in cask. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2022. Damijan Podversic is another of the young growers in Friuli who amply deserves more attention. These densely planted vineyards are farmed meticulously, while the approach in the stripped down winery is equally minimalist. Deeply influenced by his friend and mentor Josko Gravner, Damijan crafts gorgeous, textured whites. The wines see extended skin contact and are aged in cask. The wines need to be opened an hour or two in advance and should be served at cellar temperature or slightly above (but not chilled) in red wine glasses. No American importer.