Leather -
Aromas and Flavors of Wine

Leather is the tanned skin of an animal, usually a cow. The flavor of leather in a wine often comes from the tannins in it - naturally occuring substances found in red wine skins, in the seeds, and in the oak barrels that wines age in. Tannins are what help a wine age for many years. If you drink a highly tannic wine, you are actually "tanning" slightly the inside of your mouth!

The Wines with Leather Flavor

Pinot Noir often has leather flavors.

All About the Flavors of Wine