Holidays are coming, to quote the soft drink ad that is shown during the run up to Christmas. Except that it is Easter that is just around the corner.

For some reason, when I was a child, my mother would cook Christmas dinner II on Easter Sunday. It was great, we would tuck into turkey and all the trimmings, minus the crackers and the Crimbo pudding, but there was always what was left of your chocolate egg for afterwards.

I don't know if many families mark Easter with roast turkey. More commonly, I think lamb is the roast of choice on Easter Sunday and I have based this week's wine suggestions on that.

Currently on offer at Waitrose is San Antolin Reserva 2004, Navarra. I swear you won't notice this blend of merlot, cabernet sauvignon and graciano is more than ten years old, it really tastes quite fresh.

Smooth and smoky, it delivers great value for money, with spicy red-fruit flavours, vanilla, coconut and a balanced acidity that will match up to the lamb.

Majestic has Wakefield Estate Merlot 2014, from the Clare Valley in Oz. It is a full-bodied and ripe but fresh-tasting example, bursting with flavours of cherry and plum, held together by some silky smooth tannins.

Or treat yourself to an absolutely delicious, velvety textured red from the Martinborough region of New Zealand, Craggy Range Te Muna Road Pinot Noir 2012.

It is a fairly complex wine, which really benefits from being given time to open out in the glass. It has a youthful appeal, suggesting black cherries and cream soda, with floral notes and some oak toast.
 

San Antolin Reserva 2004, Navarra, £6.66 until April 14 at Waitrose 17/20.

Wakefield Estate Merlot 2014, £8.99 when you buy two at Majestic 18/20.

Craggy Range Te Muna Road Pinot Noir 2012, Martinborough, £18 from The Wine Society, £22.99 at Waitrose 18/20.