Robert Lawrence Balzer has died

[Robin Garr]

I expect a lot of you young 'uns won't know this name, although TomHill certainly will. Robert Lawrence Balzer was the Los Angeles Times wine writer back in the days before many newspapers HAD wine writers. Before the Wine Spectator (even the old wine-geek tabloid pre-Shanken) and before Parker there was Robert Lawrence Balzer. He died just short of his 100th birthday, old enough that I thought he was ancient back when I started writing about wine in the early '80s.

Even if you don't remember him, please stop and think of him and raise a glass with dinner tonight.


http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/ ... 1636.story

[Jenise]

Sad, I remember him well. I grew up reading the LA Times cover to cover, and I read his articles even before I was old enough to drink. You could say he was my first mentor.

[Robin Garr]

Sad, I remember him well. I grew up reading the LA Times cover to cover, and I read his articles even before I was old enough to drink. You could say he was my first mentor.

I think of him and Hank Rubin, another old-timer that TomHill and I have exchanged reminiscences about - and Frank Schoonmaker and Harry Waugh ... I'm sure other names from the '70s and before have slipped out of my memory right now.

In fact he died on the 1st, a week ago. He was a bit of a hero.

Having been rought up in the LA area since junior high age I remember him well and even met him a few times. Boy does that date me, to be totally honest I didn't realize he was still alive. I will raise a glass in his honor this weekend.

I remeber him as well ..I am just slightly older than dust myself..will raise a glass to Robert this weekend.