Minecraft wiki entry for Development_versions, associated text: Block states can now be used in the /execute, /fill, /setblock and /testforblock commands.
Examples:
/setblock ~ ~ ~ minecraft:stone variant=granite instead of /setblock ~ ~ ~ minecraft:stone 1
/setblock ~ ~ ~ wool color=blue instead of /setblock ~ ~ ~ minecraft:wool 11
/setblock ~ ~ ~ minecraft:planks variant=acacia instead of /setblock ~ ~ ~ minecraft:planks 4
/setblock ~ ~ ~ minecraft:birch_fence_gate facing=west,open=true